Guiding Questions:

1. How would you define “failure”?

Failure is a relative concept. If you value your time, freedom and happiness, then doing a job without having time with your family and earning a lot money is a failure. But if your purpose is to make the hell out of money as much as you can, then that job won't be a failure.

2. How failures could be a blessing in disguise? Please include a story of yours.

Four years ago, I joined a non-government organization called Toastmasters, which focus on helping people who are willing to improve their public speaking skills. The first time I stand on the stage, I was frozen to death. I didn't finish the first speech and it was a total failure. But after that night, a lot of members came to comfort me and gave me lots of suggestions and encouragements, they even told me their embarrassing moments. I didn't draw back because of them and not long after I tried again and finished the speech well. Now I dare to step on any stage to speak only because that failure and people who helped me then.

3. Who/What made us tend to avoid failure?

Our parents, education system and mass media. We care too much about our performance in others' eyes.

4.  Do you have any “VCR questions”? And what are they?

Yes. My voice is not bad, from not only my perspective but also my friends heap praises on it a lot. They encouraged me to start a radio program online. However, I've never have the courage to really start. How do I start a online program of voice seems to become my VCR question.

5. Have you done “do something” recently?  or are you going to do some “do something”?

I plan to read at least one book in English a month. I'm so glad that there are so many friends doing the same thing. There are lots of reading club in Chengdu, but none of them is English reading club. So I want to establish one. This idea had been hanging in my mind for nearly a whole year, until this month, I joined Eric's LAST reading event. I think I did something, and I think I will do something in the coming month.

My Ideas

1. At some point, most of us reach a place where we’re afraid to fail, where we instinctively avoid failure and stick only to what is placed in front of us or only what we’re already good at. This confines us and stifles us. We can be truly successful only at something we’re willing to fail at. If we’re unwilling to fail, then we’re unwilling to succeed.

I totally agree with this statement. Like I said in the Q&A sections, the experience of failure helped me a lot. So I believe there is no perfect person who never fails. We must accept that we will fail many times, and then learn from our failures and then improve ourselves. 

2. Action isn’t just the effect of motivation; it’s also the cause of it.

The loop chain reaction of inspiration, motivation and action makes me think of a sentence: When in doubt, go forward. When you're not sure about whether do something or not. Just do it and then it will cause different thoughts which can help you maker further decision. The first time I joined a public speech club, I didn't expect much of it. I even didn't think I would spend four years on helping organize and promote it later on. And in return, giving public speeches give me the courage and strength to deal with any difficult problems.

Expressions

1. Anyway, some woman sitting near him was looking on in awe.

awe 

n. Awe is the feeling of respect and amazement that you have when you are faced with something wonderful and rather often frightening.

例句：She gazed in awe at the great stones.

造句：The students were listening in awe to his speech.