It’s far more important to cheer someone on when they have failed than when they succeed.

Failure is a great teacher, and sometimes offers the best opportunity to learn. Most people emerge from failure wiser and better equipped to succeed. When you pick people up when they have failed, you let them know you believe in them, and empower them for massive success in the future.

I remember watching the Monday Night Football game on TV in the fall of 1996 between the San Francisco 49-ers and the Green Bay Packers. It was a grudge match between two very successful franchises, as the Packers had knocked the 49ers out of the playoffs the year before.

The game was at historic Lambeau Field in Green Bay, and the stadium was packed with 60,000 screaming “Cheeseheads.” The Packers’ star receiver Robert Brooks suffered a season-ending knee injury on the first play of the game, so Brett Favre had to find a new “go to” guy.

Antonio Freeman was really struggling in that game, and had dropped three passes from Favre, including one particularly dramatic one that hit him right in the chest when he was wide open.

The ABC announcers on TV stated that after three dropped passes Freeman’s confidence would be totally gone, and Favre would no longer throw to him. On the very next play, Favre threw a 15 yard bullet to Freeman at the sidelines, and Freeman caught it for a big gain. The ‘Niner’s were as surprised as the TV announcers, and had left Freeman in only single coverage.

Favre not only caught the 49ers off guard, but also gave Freeman a huge dose of confidence. He went to the man who had just failed three times… that’s empowerment!