A few months ago I wrote about a word that should be banded from our language: BUT. Today I found another word that needs to be removed from our dictionary.

Fail.

And all of the words associated with fail; failing, failed, failure.

We use the word all the time. Failed project, failed married, product failure, failing in math.

We talk about failing something that we attempted rather than focusing on the fact that we ATTEMPTED in the first place.

And that takes COURAGE. Just like the Cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz - it takes courage to step outside your comfort zone, try something new, or take a risk.

In business and in life we will try things; sometimes they succeed and sometimes they don't but at least we had the courage to try.

In relationships, with 50% divorce rate - it takes courage to try - to fall in love and give it a go. And if things become unbearable for whatever reason - it takes courage to make a change.

The same in business. It takes courage to start a new job, open a business, launch a new product. Courage to know when to cut our losses.

But at least we tried. We got in the game with both feet - with our heart and soul - and that takes courage.

As you look back over 2006 and the things you've accomplished, the things that exceeded your expectations and the things that didn't go as well as you'd hoped, remember this:

You tried. You made an effort. You gave it your all.

You were and continue to be: Courageous.