Embracing Failure: The Unexpected Path to Success for LSPs

In a candid interview on Lion People Global’s “End Game: Growth Solutions Masterclass,” Larry Gould, CEO of thebigword, opened up about his difficult past and how embracing failure helped him build a successful career. Larry’s journey, peppered with setbacks and hardships, offers valuable insights to owners and directors of language service companies. It’s a testament to the power of resilience and perseverance in turning failures into opportunities for growth.

Larry recounted his challenging youth, dropping out of high school at 15, and the difficulties he faced at home. Despite these obstacles, he managed to find success in his career. He said, “I wasn’t particularly unsuccessful with adults, but with being young was a very difficult time.” He went on to emphasize that experiencing failure can actually be beneficial: “It really does help you.”

Larry shared his observations on the struggles faced by those who have always been measured by their academic achievements. “I see they’re struggling very much because they’ve always been measured on passing results, passing exams, something that I wasn’t.” He highlighted the importance of not solely focusing on academic success and embracing different life experiences.

In Larry’s case, working in various jobs and industries allowed him to develop crucial skills that would eventually lead him to success. “I worked in retailing for quite a while and was selling. We’ll come back to the selling point later, but you know, being a failure is something halfway to being back to being a success.”

Larry encouraged the audience to reevaluate their mindset towards failure, stressing that it is never too late to turn things around. “If any of you felt you’re failures, you’re not. You’ve just had failed experiences, and you’ve got time to make it right.”

He concluded with a powerful message: “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger, right. Those failings are now time to turn around.” Larry’s story serves as a reminder that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things by embracing their failures and learning from them.

For language service companies, the key takeaway from Larry’s journey is that setbacks and challenges are not the end of the road. Rather, they offer valuable lessons and opportunities for growth. By adopting a resilient mindset and leveraging past experiences, owners and directors of these companies can chart a path to success, even in the face of adversity.