Why I’m Hooked on Failure (And You Should Be Too)

Let me tell you about the time I messed up big time. When I first started my digital agency, I was so eager to grow that I rushed to build a team. I hired fast, without really thinking about fit or culture. And guess what? It cost me a couple of big accounts. Yep, it stung. Badly.

But here’s the thing: that failure taught me more than any win ever could. As Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar, put it: “Failure is not a necessary evil, it is a necessary consequence of trying something new.” And man, did I learn that lesson the hard way.

Here’s the truth: failure is part of the game. You can’t avoid it, no matter how many productivity hacks you try or how many motivational posts you save. Avoiding failure is like avoiding progress—it just doesn’t work. When I started out, I thought I’d crush it from day one. Spoiler: I didn’t. I made mistakes—big, awkward, “what was I thinking?” mistakes. But each one taught me something I couldn’t have learned from a book or a podcast. It forced me to adapt, to think differently, and to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Gary Vee says it best: “You have to be willing to fail. You have to be willing to embarrass yourself. You have to be willing to take the risk.” Losing those accounts was embarrassing, but it also forced me to slow down and build a team that wasn’t just talented but also aligned with our vision.

And here’s the kicker: I’m still failing. Constantly. Up until this day, I mess up, make wrong calls, and stumble. But that’s the point. Failure isn’t a one-time thing—it’s a constant companion on the journey of growth. It’s not about avoiding it; it’s about learning from it and moving forward.

Failure isn’t the enemy—it’s the teacher. It strips away the fluff and shows you what really matters. It pushes you to be better, to take risks, and to grow. And when you finally succeed (because you will), it’ll feel even sweeter knowing you earned it.

So go ahead, fail. Fail hard, fail often, and fail forward. Trust me, it’s worth it.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a new idea to test—and probably fail at. But hey, that’s where the magic happens.

What’s your failure story? Let’s swap battle scars in the comments. ??