What Fergies National Anthem disaster (and response) can teach us about embracing failure

What Fergies National Anthem disaster (and response) can teach us about embracing failureWhat Fergies National Anthem disaster (and response) can teach us about embracing failureIt was truly a noteworthy performance, but for all the wrong reasons.When Fergie took to the microphone to sing the National Anthem before the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, herbei delivery didnt quite get the reaction youd hope for. In fact, far from it.Although some came to her defense - including former Lakers playerShaquille ONeal - the damage just couldnt be undone.Watch Fergies performance at the NBA All-Star GameThe games players and attendees clearly had trouble keeping their reactions to themselves. However,theres been some debate about whether or not Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was actually reacting to the singers performance (he addressed Fergies performance after the game, among other topics).But the criticism also poured in online, of course, with people airing their discontent a nd comparisons being made to unique national anthem performances of the past.Roseanne Barr appeared to think that Fergies performance wasnt even in the same category as hers, done in 1990, which also made waves for all the wrong reasons, garnering sharp words from President George Bush.But the songstress didnt disappear into the shadows following her performance.What we can take away from Fergies apologyFergie didnt let the public roasting get her down, reportedly telling TMZ,Ive always been honored and proud to perform the national anthem and last night I wanted to try something special for the NBA. Im a risk taker artistically, but clearly, this rendition didnt strike the intended tone. I love this country and honestly tried my best.She didnt shy away from the spotlight after her performance or stay in the shadows. Instead, she embraced the moment and instead of lashing out at others for the chilly reception, she took full responsibility for how her rendition went.Her apology also seems to show that she took the opportunity to sing Americas national anthem seriously and that musically, she went out on a limb to try something different, even though it didnt work in her favor. Fergie also makes it abundantly clear that although people didnt largely praise her performance, her failure shouldnt be considered intentionally disrespectful. Saying that she honestly tried my best shows that Fergie is human, and she seems comfortable with that.So when you make a big mistake in your career or while representing your employer, its better to be upfront about it than to shy away or blame someone else.