Failure. The word itself sounds dramatic, right? It’s the monster under your entrepreneurial bed, the little voice saying, “You’re going to mess this up!” But here’s the thing—failing isn’t the scary villain it pretends to be. It’s actually more of a clumsy sidekick that helps you figure things out. (Spoiler alert: every success story has one.)
If you’ve been worried about tripping up while chasing your business dreams or making a big career change, this post is for you. We’re going to flip the script on failure and show you how it can actually be the path to success. Sound good? Buckle up.
What Even Is Failure, Really?
First off, let’s reframe this idea of “failure.” It’s not the “game over” moment your brain makes it out to be—it’s more like hitting a reset button and saying, “Okay, that didn’t work. What’s next?”
Think about it this way: you didn’t learn to ride a bike without falling on your face a few times, right? Didn’t mean you were bad at bikes—it just meant you were figuring out how to stay balanced. Same thing goes for that business idea or career pivot you’re tackling.
Failure is just part of the game, not the end of it.
Why You Should Start Making Friends with Failure
Here’s a fun fact for you—doing nothing guarantees failure faster than doing something and messing up. That’s right. Standing still is the real bad guy here.
The truth is, every stumble teaches you something valuable. You find out what doesn’t work so you can get closer to what does.
Here’s a quick list of why failure is actually pretty awesome (yeah, I said it):
- It’s the perfect teacher: Each “oops” moment is just a lesson in disguise.
- It builds grit: Every time you get back up after falling, you’re stronger for it.
- It’s a clarity booster: Failing helps you figure out what you’re really passionate about (more on that later).
Okay, pep talk over. Now, here’s how you can actually do this thing.
3 Steps to Overcoming the Fear of Failure
1. Shift Your Mindset from “Oh No” to “Oh Yes”
What if, instead of panicking when you fail, you got excited? Wild thought, right? But seriously—start treating every failure as a stepping stone. Here’s your new life motto (feel free to embroider it on a pillow): “I didn’t fail; I learned something useful today.”
After every misstep, take a second to jot down what you learned. Maybe your marketing idea flopped because it wasn’t the right audience. Maybe you hated that new side hustle because your heart wasn’t in it. Either way—write it down. This will remind you that even the “fails” are taking you forward.
2. Take Action—Even When It’s Scary as Heck
Mel Robbins says it best with her “5-4-3-2-1” rule. When fear is screaming, “DON’T DO IT,” say, “Cool story, fear. Watch me,” and count down from five. Then take the leap.
The truth is, inaction is the surest path to “failure” anyway. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, according to every motivational poster in existence.
Want to open your dream café? Start brainstorming. Got a genius app idea? Work on the mockup. The secret sauce is this: take that first step, no matter how small. Action breeds momentum, and momentum breeds results.
3. Surround Yourself with Cheerleaders
Here’s the deal—it’s way easier to bounce back from failure when you’ve got a community behind you. Whether it’s friends, family, or an online group of like-minded go-getters, these people will remind you that failure is normal and that you’re crushing it just by trying.
Need examples? Look no further than the countless entrepreneurs who support each other on forums, social media groups, or through mastermind meetups. (Pro tip: I’ve created spaces just like this here on From9toThrive.com. Check them out when you’re feeling stuck!)
Why Failure Isn’t the Opposite of Success
A lot of people think life works like this: Success —Failures —- End of the world.
Wrong.
Failure isn’t the opposite of success; it’s the bridge to it. Think of it like this—you can’t build something incredible without laying the foundation first, and a lot of the time, that foundation is made of trial, error, and “well, that definitely didn’t work.”
Need proof?
- Steve Jobs got fired from the company he founded before coming back strong with the iPod.
- Oprah got demoted from a news anchor position because she was told she wasn’t “fit” for TV.
- JK Rowling’s “Harry Potter” manuscript got rejected 12 times before a publisher finally said, “Okay, fine.”
See what I mean?
A Quick Personal Story (Because Relatability Is Key)
A few years ago, I had this brilliant idea (or so I thought). I decided to open an Etsy shop selling handmade goods. Spoiler alert—it flopped. Big time.
Why? Because I’m not a “things” person. I’m an “experiences” person. My heart just wasn’t in it. Fast forward a bit, and I started a travel agency—something I was actually passionate about. Things went way better (well, until COVID…but that’s another story).
The point is, just because one thing doesn’t work, it doesn’t mean you’re the problem. It just means you’re zeroing in on what does work for you.
Key Takeaways to Move Forward
Alright, ready to start befriending failure? Keep these three simple steps in mind every time fear tries to hold you back:
- Shift Your Mindset: Learn to see failure as a stepping stone, not a roadblock.
- Take Action Anyway: Five-second countdown. Then leap.
- Find Your People: Lean on others to push through the tough parts.
Oh, and remember this—failure isn’t fatal unless you stop trying.
Want Help Turning Those Missteps Into Milestones?
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Take that first step today—you’ve got this.