Over the years, after talking with tens of thousands of entrepreneurs, artists and creatives, almost every success story we’ve heard has been filled with stories of failure. Unfortunately, in our view the media rarely covers these parts of the story – instead we often read summaries that make it seem like success happened “overnight.” However, what we’ve learned in our conversations with so many successful folks is that failure is core ingredient in the recipe for future success. Below, we’ve shared some fascinating stories of failure from folks who have ultimately found great success.

Joyce Kim

My first TV industry job was for a DC superhero show, where I met my mentor and she took a huge risk letting a complete newbie run around on a multi-million dollar production stage. All my senses were on hyperdrive as I focused on learning and pretending to be a seasoned pro, while doing the job a seasoned pro did. Read more>>

Annett Mateo

Way back I was a cubical jockey like so many of us were working in high tech. Also like so many I dreamed of getting out and doing the creative thing. I come from a creative family and it was not encouraged because everyone is a creative right!? Not by a long shot I have learned over the years. Read more>>

Candiss Pelham

Honestly, I have several stories of failure, but for the sake of time, I’ll share one that isn’t overly complex.

One of my businesses in the real estate sector specialized in working with banks to maintain foreclosed properties. For several years, the business was profitable, but when the market shifted, it quickly became unsustainable. Expenses began piling up faster than the revenue could support, and my husband and I were pouring significant personal funds into keeping it afloat. The financial strain became overwhelming, taking a toll on both our business and personal lives. Read more>>