21 Ways to Get a Second Chance

When we get things wrong–and it happens to us all sometimes–the only difference between failure and success is our attitude.

When we give ourselves a second chance we open up the opportunity to do better next time, to grow beyond our past failures and go beyond what we know we are capable of.

Here are some times to give yourself a second chance–to show you can be better and do better.

1. When decisions become difficult. Remember your values and mission and what you stand for. Give yourself a second chance by leading with your values.

2. When you’re angry. If anger gets you in trouble, make a commitment to learning to manage your emotions. Give yourself a second chance by leading with emotional intelligence.

3. When you’re mired in negativity. So much of what we think of as reality depends on our perceptions and outlook. Give yourself a second chance by leading with positive thoughts.

4. When you want to be respected. If you want respect from others, you must first give it. Respect begets respect. Give yourself a second chance by cultivating respectful leadership.

5. When you realize you don’t actually know it all. The only true wisdom is knowing how little we actually know. Make a point of asking questions and listening. Give yourself a second chance by learning from others.

6. When you need to improve. One of the best routes to any second chance is to invest wisely in yourself. Give yourself a second chance by leading with personal development.

7. When you are prone to gossip. Pay attention to your words and make sure that what you say is important, truthful, and kind. Give yourself a second chance by leading with character.

8. When you’ve been dishonest. The truth may hurt for a little while, but a lie will hurt you forever. Give yourself a second chance by leading with scrupulous honesty.

9. When you lose steam don’t think of what you need but of what you can give. It energizes you and helps others as well. Give yourself a second chance by leading with generosity.

10. When you’ve been slacking. Spend some time unlocking your “why.” Give yourself a second chance by leading with your personal mission.

11. When you’re bragging. Remember that we grow not through impressing others but through humility. Become known as one who takes genuine joy in the success of others. Give yourself a second chance by leading with modesty.

12. When you’re frightened of failure. Everything you have ever wanted is on the other side of fear. Fight your fears or you will be in battle with them forever. Give yourself a second chance by leading with courage.

13. When you’re habitually late. The person who honors time shows they respect other people’s time. It’s the best impression you can make. Give yourself a second chance by leading with punctuality.

14. When you have doubts. Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will. When you bump into doubt, take action immediately. Give yourself a second chance by leading with faithfulness.

15. When you are exhausted. Shore up bad habits of sleep and nutrition and stress, and move beyond the bad feeling to discover determination and energy. Give yourself a second chance by leading with perseverance.

16. When you are moving too fast. Remember it’s not how you start but how you finish that counts, and speed is less important than stamina. Give yourself a second chance by leading with endurance.

17. When you are unhappy. Happiness comes from doing something meaningful–from the endeavor, the pursuit of a goal. Give yourself a second chance by leading with commitment.

18. When you procrastinate. Establish habits of discipline and diligence by pledging to do whatever you are doing much better than it necessary. Give yourself a second chance by leading with excellence.

19. When you’ve broken a promise. Failing to meet your commitments is a serious goof. Again, the cure is to go beyond expectations. Deliver more, better, and faster than promised. Give yourself a second chance by leading with resolve.

20. When you’ve failed. If nothing else, failure sets you up to welcome change. Let go of the past and work hard on changing the present. Give yourself a second chance by leading with agility.

21. When you feel you have nothing left to give. When you least feel like it is when it’s most important to seek out every opportunity to give. It doesn’t have to be money–time, attention, appreciation all count. Give yourself a second chance by leading with giving.

There are hundreds of ways to give yourself a second chance. Whatever it is you need, the important thing is to take yourself closer each day to becoming the truly successful and happy person you are meant to be.


N A T I O N A L   B E S T S E L L E R

THE LEADERSHIP GAP

What Gets Between You and Your Greatness

After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.

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Photo Credit: Getty Images


Lolly Daskal is one of the most sought-after executive leadership coaches in the world. Her extensive cross-cultural expertise spans 14 countries, six languages and hundreds of companies. As founder and CEO of Lead From Within, her proprietary leadership program is engineered to be a catalyst for leaders who want to enhance performance and make a meaningful difference in their companies, their lives, and the world.

Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.

  1. Harold Ndhlovu

    16. Jun, 2018

    Lolly,you are one person that lifts my spirit whenever i’m down,you are such an inspiration to me and my friends..Keep up and God bless you.

    Reply to this comment

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