What can a woodpecker teach us about failure?

How do you handle failure?

When you didn’t achieve what you hoped to.

Woodpeckers are known for their ability to persevere in their hunt for food, even after many unsuccessful attempts.

They will tap on many spots on a tree trunk, trying to locate insects hidden underneath the bark.

Tap.

Nothing there.

Tap. Nothing.

Tap. Still nothing.

They keep going. Tap… tap…

A friend of mine, Dave (not his real name), had always dreamt of working as a counsellor. He had a heart for people and a desire to see broken souls flourish.

A job unexpectedly opened up for him at a small firm while he was still working on his degree. Things seemed to be going well until one day he was sacked. Completely out of left field. Without any warning.

No reason was given and no complaint had ever been made.

Most of us would have needed counselling ourselves but my friend simply continued with his studies. Then, just before qualifying, he joined another firm. Time went by, he graduated, clients were grateful for his help, and the firm grew.

However, my friend noticed some practices by other counsellors that were a little outdated and a little discriminatory towards marginalised people and so he decided to voice his concerns.

The golden boy bringing in the new clients was now perceived as a threat to the old ways of doing things. The board took a vote, and my friend was out.

Dave found work at a bigger firm and his influence was so effective that he found himself spearheading a potentially lucrative merger between two firms.

Until somebody spread untrue rumours about him and he was forced to resign again.

He joined the next firm as a senior counsellor and his clients loved him. This is the best job I have ever had, he thought until history repeated itself and a handful of senior partners, nervous of change, made his position there untenable.

How many times do I have to keep failing in my career?

However, there is a happy ending.

Today, my friend enjoys a fruitful partnership with another firm. They love what he brings to the table and the work is flourishing.

But I often wonder… what made him keep going, with what must have felt like failure upon failure?

Alongside his Christian faith, I think Dave would say he is a bit like a woodpecker.

There are 7 things a woodpecker can teach us about dealing with failure.

1.     It pecks thousands of times to find food: A woodpecker may tap at many spots on a tree before finding what it’s looking for. My friend had to try different locations before finding the right fit for him.

2.     Every peck provides information: What feels like failure might actually be feedback. By listening to the sound and feeling the vibration, the woodpecker learns where insects are likely to be hiding. And where they are not.

And Dave learned where was not the best place for him to flourish.

3.     It doesn't quit after a few misses: If a woodpecker gave up after ten fruitless pecks, it wouldn’t be a woodpecker. Dave persisted because he knew he was called to be a counsellor.

4.     Small efforts accumulate: A single peck barely changes a tree, but hundreds of pecks can create a nest cavity that becomes a safe home.

5.     Success is often invisible until the breakthrough. Observers may see only endless pecking, but then the grub is found or the nesting hole is completed.

6.     Consistency beats intensity: The woodpecker doesn't rely on one mighty strike, just many steady strikes in the right direction.

7.     The goal is bigger than the setback: Missing an insect on one peck doesn't change the woodpecker's purpose. Dave kept his purpose clearly in front of him and he found what he was looking for.

Whether the failure is yours or forced upon you, accumulate the lessons you learn as fuel for future success.

……….

If you enjoy reading articles like this, my small contribution to this space is a series of guided journals.

 Sloths are Awesome, Slow Down and Breathe is one of several designed to help you slow your pace, reflect honestly, and reconnect with what actually matters—before life forces you to.

Feel free to explore it here: https://geni.us/qMdXgJ 

And… to discover more of what Animal Instincts has to offer, please go back to the main page here: https://www.animalinstincts2026.au/