Spirit Magazine - March 2014 - (Page 20)

From the Editor COMMON THREAD Dear Reader, One of my favorite writers, Gary Shteyngart, recently showed up in a picture on Facebook holding a sign with the cover image from his latest book, Little Failure. Emblazoned across the sign are these words: "Failure is an Option." If I knew how to embroider, I'd make a pillow featuring that slogan. Those who do needlepoint for a living-or bake cheesecake, or paint burlap table runners for sale on Etsy, or forge entirely new career directions for themselves- 20 SPIRIT MARCH 2014 are the subject of the cover story on page 70. This special package is about people pursuing a "New American Dream." If you read between the lines, it also has to do with failure. As more of us quit our day jobs and become free agents, ultimate success belongs not to the most talented or the hardest working, but to those who recover best from bad luck and their own mistakes. Of course, failure isn't always an option, which is why a company like Southwest Airlines has support systems and sterling safety records. But in other fields, failing is a necessity. Bodybuilders lift to failure, pumping iron until they can't get in another rep. Judo novices learn the art of falling. Engineers push devices until they break, to measure the margin of safety. And most of the successful people I have interviewed over the years have proudly described their flops and recoveries. In fact, failing is a skill that everyone should learn early on. Take writing, for example. Instead of just instructing students to create a great first draft, we ought to show them how to rewrite a lousy one. And the new handicraft entrepreneurs don't need to grow up learning the secrets of success so much as how to bounce back from defeat. So, fellow strivers, go out there, do your best, and fail! While the meek shall inherit the earth, the resilient will earn it the hard way. -Jay Heinrichs Editorial Director PHOTOGRAPHY BY © NICOLE HILL/RUBBERBALL/CORBIS Sometimes, focusing on perfection is beside the point.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Spirit Magazine - March 2014

Spirit Magazine - March 2014
Contents
Gary’s Greeting
Gary’s Greeting en Español
Star of the Month
Freedom Story
From the Editor
Your Words
Your Pictures
Media Center
Eat Drink Sleep
Wise Guide
Numbers
Business
The New American Dream
Your Adventure In New York City
Calendar
Fun!
Spotlight
Community Outreach
Products & Services
Flight Service
Terminal Maps
Information
Rapid Rewards and A+ Rewards Partners
Route Map
The “If” List

Spirit Magazine - March 2014