For a significant portion of my life, I taught Science and History to Middle and High Students. But like most teachers, the curriculum was only part of what I taught. What I truly enjoyed, and what I believe was most vital, was teaching my students how to fail well.

I grew tired of watching brilliant students paralyzed by anxiety. They lacked a sense of psychological safety, which led to a generalized, “world-is-ending” fear of making a mistake. This was not just unhealthy; it was unproductive. They were not moving forward because they did not have a system to process their setbacks.

I had to come up with a new way to approach the potential of failing, to minimize the impact, to grow from and ultimately achieve greater and greater success from failing.

So I taught them how to FLeRD their failures.