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.

Alyssa Swank

There have been many times I convinced myself that I was a failure. I have struggled with my mental health during my twenties, and it continued to get worse until I sought out correct help. I almost gave up on my business. I thought that work was the issue, but now I understand that the real issues were so far beyond my business and work life. Since that time I have been been working every single day, in many different ways, on my own personal healing journey. I can see now that my career is such a positive thing in my life- as I am able to connect with so many beautiful people and doing hair is a creative outlet for me. Read more>>

Faye and Kaye Evans

This question is quite interesting in our opinions because we don’t view failure like most people. The act of failing to Giuseppe and Rowena is never trying and having thoughts in our minds and not doing anything about it. Things that you set out to do such as relocating to other cities without proper planning can be disappointing when it doesn’t work out or leaving a position for one you feel is a better fit and that doesn’t work out but we look at it like as not failing. We view it is at least we gave it a shot and tried. When you step out of your comfort zone no matter what the outcome is , we look at it as growth and believing in ourselves. Read more>>

Melody Paniagua

It may sound odd, however, I am going to answer this question by saying that my grandest failure was thinking that I would have things all figured out. We have normalized the standard practice of measuring success through the checklist, playing that process of an elimination game, and being boggled down to that certain moment, maybe date, maybe year, that this task/milestone needed to be accomplished. I think the greatest lesson that I am going to connect back to my journey as the business owner and creative behind Making Magical Candles, my Etsy shop, is that of trusting that your magic will never steer you in the wrong direction There is nothing wrong with having a vision. What matters is that deep understanding that having that vision is not just having that vision. Read more>>

corey powell

I was 22 years old (1984) when I got my cosmetology license. I was told that Jose Eber was the best salon in Beverly Hills, and it was hard to get a job unless you were European. So that was the first place I went. I got a job assisting Jose; he would be away for a month, so I got two other jobs at prestigious salons to check out. I worked at Jose Eber for five-plus years. I developed a stellar career working with celebrities, designed looks for movies and TV shows and was a sought-after hair savant. We, my partner in business and life, 0pened up a hair salon called The Parlour in 2000. The salon was a success; I became a bigger brand. Then, about four years into it, I became a pill-popping drinking fool, an alcoholic. I got sober, and then my relationship fell apart. Read more>>

Miriam Szkup

It wasn’t so much a failure, but more of a step back to re-evaluate what I really wanted to focus on in my business without compromising my health, mental health, the relationships in my life, as well as the products I serve. When my baking business took off over a year ago, I hit the ground running. I was at times making over 30 dozen pastries a week, all while still maintaining a part-time baking job. I was working so much between my business and my part-time job, that my mental health and health in general began to suffer. Being a small business owner is very difficult, especially when you are doing the majority of it on your own. Read more>>