I was thinking recently about what it meant to people to discuss failure. Wikipedia provides the standard definition:  “Failure is the state or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, and may be viewed as the opposite of success.” Further in the article, it touches on failure as being a matter of perspective or following an individual’s belief system, so I’d like to pick up that baton and run with it for a bit.

In order to fail, one requires a defined expectation or a set of expectations. These may be personal goals (working out three times a week, learning a new language) or work-related (reducing incident rates, increasing inventory turnover), but from the get-go there are usually criteria for success and deadlines to be met. If those conditions are not met, then we would deem it a failure. It feels so final, and somewhat dejecting.

So what if we took control over those conditions?

Think of a complex project. Perhaps there are ten things to accomplish to complete the project, and when the deadline approaches, only eight are met. Would that be a failure? Worst-case scenario, even if the project hinged on all ten being completed, and therefore the eight completed steps were rendered meaningless, there would be positives. The experience gained by pushing through the completed portions would give a sense of confidence and allow for more efficient action the next time. On the other hand, those remaining pieces were either too challenging with the timelines given, or required resources or training that weren’t available. So, on reflection, we are set up to have a greater chance of success for the next project.

Instead of ‘failing’, it’s more like we’re ‘on the path to success’. Let’s look at prescribing services. It’s been a few years since legislation was passed in Nova Scotia to allow pharmacist prescribing. Other provinces have taken up the mantle and are promoting to the public in varying ways. Our version features limited funding for government drug plan beneficiaries for select minor ailments. This is a positive step and the measurement of success is outcome-based; will the service be in-demand, will it save clinic or emergency room visits? Most importantly, will the pharmacist gain the trust of the public to carry out the services start to finish independent of a primary care physician? To place the yardstick to measure service value, we need repetition and a significant volume of interactions. So if we don’t reach a specified number, does that make the project a failure?

I prefer to think of it in terms of positives. What this opportunity has created is a forum for pharmacists to work towards a common goal and discuss what has worked and what hasn’t. Each new patient discussion extends the awareness to another family or community group, each physician notification provides education as to what we are able to remove from a hectic clinic workload. As pharmacists receive support to change their practice styles, this will allow for successful prescribing activities, and every dipping of the toe into the new waters is an encouraging one.

Really, the only failure in any of this is a failure to try something new. It’s like disliking a food you’ve never tried (which I’m sure we’ve all done at some point); you will never know if you’re missing out. So be bold – if you’re willing to learn from mistakes, and aren’t afraid to find success, then you can #Neverfail.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.