Tim, I discovered by iterating that my best performing stories are those where I fail first and then figure out a solution, however insignificant the problem may be. Even in writing, humans love to read stuff where a transformation happens.
"This is gonna sound whack, but I hope you fail with whatever goal you’re working on right now. I really want you to get this gift from heaven."
I have failed so many times at the goal I'm on now that this time I'm using those failures and shortcuts I learned to now be successful. And it's working. 🙌😉
Sharing my experience and lessons learned as a parent and caregiver in extreme parenting situations. Building a community around that and helping those families manage their stress and find solutions to their unique issues.
To achieve that goal requires consistent action (writing, publishing, marketing etc consistently). That's been difficult for me to do for various reasons for the past 4 years. But I'm finally here!
What say you of the people who have taken risk and failed,again taken risk and again failed.it kept occurring in a sequence.now they do not know what to do and not fail again.
I feel that if you keep meeting resistance it's not meant to be. Either not yet or ever. To me, it means you need to evaluate yourself, work through the blocks holding you back, and re-evaluate. And move on if it doesn't align with your mission.
I think it is a question of what mode you choose.if you are going with the flow,chances of failure are less.if you are taking your own path at your own speed,chances of failure are multiple.i think a dash of good luck is required in every endeavor.
If everyone learned to fail gracefully, we might just be on the fast track to world peace! But that requires a hefty dose of humility, which demands serious self-discipline, especially under the spotlight. It’s often those who’ve hit rock bottom who emerge with the strongest character because the cost of losing is death itself. After all, true resilience isn’t built on perfection—it’s forged in the fires of hardship.
This essay reminds me of how my envy of coworkers did in my first career. My coworkers were moving up, getting married, buying cars and houses. I was envious, not going anywhere.
Two months ago, I read some of Joseph Epstein’s book on envy. He stated “The philosophers who wrote the best material on envy were bachelors” I’m a bachelor. Yes, this scares me. A lot. It should.
I’ve had at least four chances to chat with awesome women this year and I nixed all of them. Fear of failure. Fear of them finding out I’m a freak.
I loved this post. I find the writing I am interested in most is from people telling me about failures they have overcome. I also find that my writing that gets the most love is the writing that shares failures I have overcome. It gets boring listening to the person who "has never taken an L." It's not relatable, and we need to relate to others if we want to be inspired.
Tim, it's going to sound whack, but my favorite one is the one you lost 1.2 million. I just got scammed for 60k (which is a lot for me) but your story made me feel strangely really good about it, thanks
I enjoyed this article as I agree that if I hadn't failed many times I would not know as much as I do. Related to this theme, I was attending an indie rock concert with a band that I had never listened to (invited by a friend) and the lead singer who is 37 (and started his band at 15!) said something which made me sit up and pay attention. He was having a little ramble between songs and he said that it's taken him a long time to "learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable" because that's where the growth and magic lies. I really liked that and have added it to my small set of mantras to live by. If you are pushing the outside of the envelope or in other words demonstrating a growth mindset, you are gonna feel uncomfortable for a bit until mastery sets in and then you have to start again (rinse and repeat). If we are "comfortable", we are probably being complacent and stagnant. Not to say we should not stop and smell the roses at times. Anyway thanks for the thought provoking article (although I think it's a bit melodramatic to say you dislike these people more than drug dealers but I get it - you wanted to drive the point home).
This -> Failures help you generate your own wisdom.
Just gold.
I don't remember how it happened but I learned young enough that failures and mistakes are the better teachers. Because what works one time is not guaranteed to always do.
Failures teach you more. Generate wisdom like you said. Which is more valuable.
Yes, I have failed, a lot. And I have accumulated a lot of knowledge (and hopefully some wisdom) in my bag.
You should want to fail. You should expect to fail. Most things you try in life won’t work the first time. That’s the whole point. Trying one time is a disaster. You try the same thing multiple times and iterate slightly each time. That’s how you figure out what does work.
“It is a curse to have everything go right on your first attempt” – Robert Greene
WOW! never thought of it like that....I am one of the "criminals" you point out who HATES to make a mistake.....some good things to reconsider here....!
Tim, I discovered by iterating that my best performing stories are those where I fail first and then figure out a solution, however insignificant the problem may be. Even in writing, humans love to read stuff where a transformation happens.
Seen similar effects. Can you link to the best example story of this from you?
Tim, this one came to my mind - failed to become a professor but started seeing opportunities: https://medium.com/career-paths/getting-let-go-from-your-job-is-a-blessing-if-youre-ready-to-question-your-beliefs-7f6e57a265dc.
"This is gonna sound whack, but I hope you fail with whatever goal you’re working on right now. I really want you to get this gift from heaven."
I have failed so many times at the goal I'm on now that this time I'm using those failures and shortcuts I learned to now be successful. And it's working. 🙌😉
What's your goal Dawn?
Sharing my experience and lessons learned as a parent and caregiver in extreme parenting situations. Building a community around that and helping those families manage their stress and find solutions to their unique issues.
To achieve that goal requires consistent action (writing, publishing, marketing etc consistently). That's been difficult for me to do for various reasons for the past 4 years. But I'm finally here!
What say you of the people who have taken risk and failed,again taken risk and again failed.it kept occurring in a sequence.now they do not know what to do and not fail again.
Chances are people in this situation refuse to learn. Would you agree?
Seriously. It's either they're not learning anything from it or it's not meant to be and time to move on. Or both.
"Not meant to" be sounds a but like hope. You make it meant to be.
I feel that if you keep meeting resistance it's not meant to be. Either not yet or ever. To me, it means you need to evaluate yourself, work through the blocks holding you back, and re-evaluate. And move on if it doesn't align with your mission.
To some extent yes but I do not fully agree.I have personally watched these people and they are wiser than average.
Romi, then why aren't they learning from their mistakes?
I think it is a question of what mode you choose.if you are going with the flow,chances of failure are less.if you are taking your own path at your own speed,chances of failure are multiple.i think a dash of good luck is required in every endeavor.
Tim: You've written a lot of great articles but this is my favorite.
It's what I told my son as he went off to college:
"Go out into the world and fail."
It's the fastest way to discover yourself.
"The failures make you magnetic."
That is so true.
If everyone learned to fail gracefully, we might just be on the fast track to world peace! But that requires a hefty dose of humility, which demands serious self-discipline, especially under the spotlight. It’s often those who’ve hit rock bottom who emerge with the strongest character because the cost of losing is death itself. After all, true resilience isn’t built on perfection—it’s forged in the fires of hardship.
Man am i trustworthy then…
This essay reminds me of how my envy of coworkers did in my first career. My coworkers were moving up, getting married, buying cars and houses. I was envious, not going anywhere.
Two months ago, I read some of Joseph Epstein’s book on envy. He stated “The philosophers who wrote the best material on envy were bachelors” I’m a bachelor. Yes, this scares me. A lot. It should.
I’ve had at least four chances to chat with awesome women this year and I nixed all of them. Fear of failure. Fear of them finding out I’m a freak.
There’s nothing I can say to conclude this story.
i can relate; I’m a bachelorette (lol). It’s scary doing Life alone, but still I’m here. If a tree falls in a forest, does anyone hear it?
I loved this post. I find the writing I am interested in most is from people telling me about failures they have overcome. I also find that my writing that gets the most love is the writing that shares failures I have overcome. It gets boring listening to the person who "has never taken an L." It's not relatable, and we need to relate to others if we want to be inspired.
Incredibly freeing advice, plus a great read. Thanks, Tim.
And for all parents out there raising kids and worrying that your kiddos will struggle--or FAIL--this is worth reading.
One of the greatest gifts we can give our kids is the space to fail, pick themselves back up and try again.
Failing forward = resilient kids.
“Failing - Forward” is excellent philosophy and mindset 💘
Tim, it's going to sound whack, but my favorite one is the one you lost 1.2 million. I just got scammed for 60k (which is a lot for me) but your story made me feel strangely really good about it, thanks
I enjoyed this article as I agree that if I hadn't failed many times I would not know as much as I do. Related to this theme, I was attending an indie rock concert with a band that I had never listened to (invited by a friend) and the lead singer who is 37 (and started his band at 15!) said something which made me sit up and pay attention. He was having a little ramble between songs and he said that it's taken him a long time to "learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable" because that's where the growth and magic lies. I really liked that and have added it to my small set of mantras to live by. If you are pushing the outside of the envelope or in other words demonstrating a growth mindset, you are gonna feel uncomfortable for a bit until mastery sets in and then you have to start again (rinse and repeat). If we are "comfortable", we are probably being complacent and stagnant. Not to say we should not stop and smell the roses at times. Anyway thanks for the thought provoking article (although I think it's a bit melodramatic to say you dislike these people more than drug dealers but I get it - you wanted to drive the point home).
This -> Failures help you generate your own wisdom.
Just gold.
I don't remember how it happened but I learned young enough that failures and mistakes are the better teachers. Because what works one time is not guaranteed to always do.
Failures teach you more. Generate wisdom like you said. Which is more valuable.
Yes, I have failed, a lot. And I have accumulated a lot of knowledge (and hopefully some wisdom) in my bag.
Currently failing with my newsletter.
Time to find the lessons and do better.
Also this -> Comebacks are always possible
Thanks Tim.
You should want to fail. You should expect to fail. Most things you try in life won’t work the first time. That’s the whole point. Trying one time is a disaster. You try the same thing multiple times and iterate slightly each time. That’s how you figure out what does work.
“It is a curse to have everything go right on your first attempt” – Robert Greene
WOW! never thought of it like that....I am one of the "criminals" you point out who HATES to make a mistake.....some good things to reconsider here....!
Thanks Tim, that was one hell of an article. Very often people incriminate failures not seeing the big picture.
I have done countless of mistakes to get where I'm today and I will probably do more.
The point you are making is clear: To succeed and win you need to fail and lose many times thats when success gets its true value.
Barrier to entry is truly taking a risk. That’s all