Understanding Success and Failure: Insights from Lorna Denton

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Many humans live out their lives, day to day, through success and failure. — Annelise Lords

People tell you and show you their life through the manual of how they live. — Annelise Lords

The Struggle for Control

“I can’t do this anymore, Diane,” Joseph complains at their regular company meeting. “We are losing control. Nothing we do works.”

Diane stared at him from a few feet across the table and suggested, “Maybe we keep hiring the wrong people.”

“We hired qualified, educated people,” he reminds her.

“Yes, they are qualified,” she agreed.

“But for what? Because they lack discipline and are not improving our business,” he rants.

“What can we do?” she asks, feeling the weight of their situation.

“This is our third business that failed, Diane. I can’t go on like this. We are running out of money,” he complained.

“I don’t have the energy to start over, Joseph,” her sadness and disappointment were evident.

“What are we doing wrong?” he asked, desperation creeping into his voice.

“Hey! Why don’t we ask Lorna Denton!” Diane suggests, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

“You mean the fifth-time winner of Woman of the Year in business, Lorna Denton?” Joseph asked, surprised.

“I met her at the centre where I volunteered a month ago. She comes every Saturday from twelve to two to help the children with whatever issues they are having, wherever and with whomever,” Diane explained, her excitement growing.

“Think she will help you?” he inquired, still sceptical.

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” Diane replied confidently.

A New Perspective

One week later, Lorna Denton sat inside their office. After they explained their failures, she asked, “What do you know about the people you hired?”

Joseph and Diane exchanged glances. Then Joseph said, “They found us on social media, LinkedIn, and various employment agencies across the country.”

“So, you know nothing about them,” she stated plainly.

They exchanged glances again, and Joseph asked, “Your business, and you have won five awards for being the best. I know you are good, but you alone can’t make your business so successful.”

She smiled, then agreed, “Damn right you are. Productive, smart, ambitious workers with lots of common sense make the business successful.”

“How does one find workers like that?” he asked, intrigued.

“I read their life manuals,” Lorna informed them.

“Ah!” they both exclaimed, understanding dawning on them.

Lorna smiled, nodded, then explained, “I read the life manuals for the people I hire.”

The Importance of Background Checks

“Can you elaborate?” Joseph asked, his curiosity piqued.

“When they send in their resumes and applications, I do a thorough investigation before hiring the ones I want,” she explained.

Their eyes widened as she continued, “We go back deep into their lives from Elementary to College. We find friends and enemies and learn about their lives and mistakes. We want people who are hungry for success and will do the right things to get it and know how to maintain it.”

“How do you get to their friends and foes?” Joseph wondered aloud, covering his mouth when she answered.

“By getting their work life and experiences from all of their employers,” she replied.

“They turn that over to you?” he asked, astonished.

“At a cost,” she informed them.

“Isn’t that illegal?” Joseph questioned, his brow furrowing.

“I do it like the FBI, CIA, and MI5 to get the best person for the job after we do our social media research,” she explained.

“Damn,” Joseph thought, realising the depth of her methods.

The Challenge of Maintaining Success

“From my many life challenges, I learned that the hard part isn’t getting to success for many humans; it’s staying successful. That area is where many fail. Staying there is hell for many people,” she enlightened them.

“I love this!” Joseph cried out, bolting up from the armchair he sat on. He eased closer to her and asked, “You test all of them, too, don’t you?”

“I use the kindness test, gratitude test, determination test, frustration test, opportunity-of-a-lifetime test, hope test, failure test, common sense test. I use any test that will strengthen them and help them want to fight for what they want. Then I hand them success based on how well they do their job,” Lorna explained passionately.

“Lllooovvveee this!” Joseph said in delight as Diane sat glowing with happiness.

Getting to Know Your Employees

“So, you take the time to know the people you are hiring from somewhere deeper?” Diane inquired, her interest growing.

“Because success and failure are resident in every life, the secret to getting along with others is taking the time to know them inside and out. That tiny decision removes hell and certain surprises, which improves friendships and relationships positively,” Lorna counselled, giving them eye contact.

“You mean success and failure live within us?” Diane asked, trembling, her eyes on Joseph.

“Yes, dear,” Lorna admitted, maintaining her gaze. “It’s in every action, choice, decision, intention, heart, mind, and soul. Humans don’t want failure, unaware that sensible humans use it to maintain success.”

Using Failure as a Tool

“How does one use failure to maintain success?” Joseph asked, deep in thought.

“It shows you where you will end up if you make stupid mistakes, destroying the good you have. Knowing your future is power!” she encouraged.

Joseph and Diane sat, absorbing her words of wisdom as many thoughts surged through their minds. Ways to recharge and restart took over their thoughts.

Lorna smiled at them, then, motivated, after handing them her card with her personal number, said, “Success isn’t as hard as many of us think. It’s the tiny, simple, kind, and understandable habits used along with the knowledge of the people we are spending forty or more hours per day with that will allow success to grow and keep on growing.”

She hugged them both and headed towards the exit. Then she turned and said, “Read their life manuals before hiring them. Success and failure reside there.”

Conclusion: The Choice We All Have

Damn, success and failure live in all of us, giving us all a choice. For 2026, go inside yourself and others that you care about, find success, and grow it. Then use failure to maintain it.

Thank you for reading this piece. I hope you enjoyed it.