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.

Nicolette Lambright

I like this question because I am at a year that I have accepted failure. I have, one could say.. enjoyed accepting failure the last few years. I think the best artists ( and perhaps the best humans) have failed the most. We can’t translate much.. if we haven’t lived a lot.

Not continuing to do things the way things have always been through failure, is a great blessing. I have sort of taught myself most of the way I have been doing things in the last decade. Maybe I’m not “successful” to some, but to others I have lived a dream. Every project I have done, has been for the most part, more than I could have imagined. Read more>>

Morgan Hurd

As a former elite athlete, there have been more times than I could count where I felt like a failure. All though I have stepped away from elite athletics, there are still many instances in which I have felt this way. There has kind of been a butterfly effect that began with one time of failure that has really shifted my path in life and has led me to things that I could now not imagine my life without. Read more>>

Jillian Rothe

I’ve created this whole brand and company basically on accident. We created a product to solve our own problem and then eventually figured out how to build a website and drive marketing intentionally. We were smart enough in the beginning to apply for a provisional patent, but didn’t ahve the same sense of urgency for trademarks. Read more>>

Lalitha Arnold

I failed when I didn’t go with my first mind. When I was coming up my grandmother taught me how to listen to my first mind. And just like when I was younger I still find myself being hard headed. And what comes with that? Hard times and that’s what I experienced when not listening to my first mind. The thing I should have listened to was to let some of my stylist go. But I told myself it would get better even after my gut said it wouldn’t. Even after they showed their hand. Even after they showed me who they really were. And I still was like everything will be ok. I was right about that because everything is ok, now! Read more>>