Everything You Know About Failure Is Wrong
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What if you’ve been looking at failure in the wrong way?
Hey gorgeous. We need to have a little heart-to-heart. We are constantly taught in life and in business that failure is a bad thing. It’s painted as a lack of success. An embarrassing collapse. A total defeat. A flop. Right?
DEAD. WRONG.
Here is the truth, babe: not only is failure unavoidable, it is actually a totally natural part of your pathway forward, especially if that path includes entrepreneurship. If you want to be successful, it’s time to stop running and start embracing the fumble. Creating your own path starts with making failure your BFF.
The sooner that you can embrace the power of failing, the quicker you can move forward to bigger and better things. I know it sounds scary, but trust me on this one, lovely.
So many of us use the fear of failure as an excuse to hold us back. We remain stagnant, trapped in our current situations, simply becuase we’re too afraid to move forward and risk not reaching our big dreams and goals. But ladies, what if you could view failure, not as rejection… but as redirection?
Failure is Just Redirection
Here’s what’s actually great about failure: it’s an instinctive indication to redirect your energy somewhere else. Contrary to popular belief, failure is not a bad thing. Rather it’s a learning lesson to either pivot to a different direction, adopt a new approach, or move on completely.
I know what it’s like to face entrepreneurial failure. In late 2015, after nearly two years as a full-time food blogger and wellness coach, I was forced to confront the reality that my current business had crumbled. It hurts, I know.
It was a reality that was months in the making. Of course, looking back now, it’s easy to see why it didn’t work out: I didn’t have the right structure or support in place and there was a serious lack of diversifying my income. But truthfully, the spark that I once had for my food blog and wellness business had dwindled away in the same direction as my business profits (aka, downward in a pile of nothingness).
Let’s pause here for a sec – have you ever felt that spark fade? That sinking feeling that something isnt right? I’d love to hear your experience in the comments below. You aren’t alone in this, lovely.
Even with that said, it was still an extremely emotional time for me. I had many sleepless nights, random cryfests, and feelings of self-pity and disappointment. If you’ve gone through something similar, you know the rollercoaster of emotions that comes along with it. In the midst of it all, I questioned everything and even regretted getting into entrepreneurship in the first place. In fact, when I first went back to work, I vowed to say goodbye to being an entrepreneur for good.
Of course, looking back, failure became one of my biggest blessings in disguise.
It was that exact failure that acted as a pivot towards something that I realized was my true purpose in life: to show other females how to quit the job they hate and build a business they love.
I’m so grateful that the first entrepreneurial endeavor didn’t work out. I can thank my failure for eventually leading me to my current successes, including launching my growing and profitable subscription box, coaching and mentoring incredible clients, and writing my first book.
Three Reasons Why Failure is Your Best Friend
Listen lovely, failure can be a serious ally to your big goals and aspirations. Here is exactly why she should be your bestie:
1. She reminds you how strong you are
It’s true that going through failure may feel like hitting rock bottom… I’ve been there, and I certainly had days where I didn’t want to leave the safety of my bed (with Netflix on and ice cream and wine on the bedside table). We have all had those days, haven’t we?
But once you go through a failure or two and move past it, you’re reminded how strong you are mentally and emotionally. Everything you built was pulled out from under you, and you’re still here, ready to make your move.
It’s kind of like your first love (and first break-up) – while it’s devastatingly crushing the first time around, after you come out the other side, you realize how strong and capable you are (and the next one is never as difficult to go through as the first).
2. She gives you advice
The best BFFs not only listen to your hopes and dreams, but they also provide suggestions and help guide you towards the next step to take. Failure is no different. She acts as a compass, redirecting you towards where you should go. She serves as a learning lesson to experiment and try new things in your business and life.
3. She helps you redefine success
Sometimes we chase goals that aren’t really ours. Failure strips away the ego and leaves you with what truly matters. It forces you to ask the hard questions and get real with yourself.
Journal Questions to Move Forward & Redefine Failure
If you’ve experienced a failure that you can’t move past, it’s time to reframe the situation as a learning lesson. Grab your journal and a glass of wine, babe. Use these journal questions to open your mind and embrace failure as part of your pathway to greatness.
Question One: What did I learn from the situation?
Question Two: How can I grow as a person from the experience?
Question Three: What are three positive things about the situation that I can take away?
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is failure considered good for entrepreneurs?
Failure is often a sign of redirection. It acts as a compass, showing you what strategies didn’t work so you can pivot toward a more profitable and fulfilling path. It builds resilience and mental strength necessary for long-term success.
How can I recover from business failure?
Recovering starts with reframing the mindset. Allow yourself to feel the emotions, but then look for the lesson. Use journaling prompts to analyze what you learned and how you can grow, then take small steps toward a new direction.
Is fear of failure normal?
Absolutely! Fear of failure is very common, but it shouldn’t hold you back. Instead of viewing it as a rejection, try to see it as a necessary step in your journey to finding what truly aligns with your purpose.
We Want to Hear From You, Lovely!
I know talking about failure is scary, but sharing our stories is how we heal and grow together. Have you ever experienced a “failure” that turned out to be a redirection? Share your story in the comments below – your experience might be exactly what another woman needs to read today. Let’s support each other!
