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.
Nybriah Gudes
About 7 years ago I was moving into the dorms where I attended college in Toccoa Falls Georgia. This was the college that I got accepted into my 11th grade year so I was so excited to be going. My time there was challenging. I experienced heartbreaks, failures, financial hardship because of being irresponsible, and much more. But I gained wonderful friends and professors. Because I failed and recieved a failing gpa I was put on academic probation and could no longer recieve aid. Read more>>
Kia Ja
When starting a business it can be both exciting and challenging jumping into any industry. As a business owner you have to know your target audience be your own financial advisor, Marketer, Photographer, Videographer, and so on when your coming up on your own and paying out of pocket. I can say without the skill set and knowledge in neither fields I’ve failed time and time again. It took long nights and dedication and till this day I’m still learning while working and taking care of home. It’s a challenge but when you want something bad enough you go for it. Read more>>
Katherine Bailey
Opening up about failure feels like opening a huge can of worms! When I look back on my life, I see many highlights of failure and poor decisions. It seemed like I was stuck in a cycle where one failure led to another. But the way I see it now, there’s a more positive way to frame those experiences. We all know the story of Thomas Edison’s creation of the light bulb—the hundreds of “failures” that eventually led to something remarkable. In truth, he wasn’t failing. He was discovering what didn’t work on the path to something that did. My life’s journey feels a lot like that. Read more>>
Katya Scagnelli
I think a lot of people immediately think to one “big” event or a story how they failed. However I want to explore on my interpretation that as a human, it’s not one big failure, but the series of little failures, factual or self imaginary that can hold us down like a weighed blanket. At the end it’s what we do with it that shapes so many of our personal experiences. Since I was a kid, I remember myself always being anxious. It’s hard to explain, but I often had that pit in the stomach feeling of unease. From constant nightmares to anxiety for no obvious reasons, feeling on guard became the norm. Growing up in a culture where excelling in academics is the expectation, at times it became too overwhelming. Read more>>
Lia Lamela
Operating a commercial fishing tackle business with a finance and looking forward to marriage my life abruptly changed when I became a survivor of domestic violence. I lost everything and had to start over from the confines of a Woman’s Shelter Read more>>
Diana Antillon
Despite facing significant challenges, including poverty and bullying, I’ve always been driven to make a positive impact. My personal experiences have instilled in me a deep empathy for children and a desire to create joyful memorable experiences for them. After exploring various career paths and facing setbacks, I realized that my ability to connect with children and my passion for creativity could be the foundation for fulfilling business. By turning my own childhood struggles into a source of inspiration, I’ve been able to build a thriving kids entertainment business that brings joy to countless families. I’m committed to providing a safe, inclusive space where children can feel celebrated and empowered. Read more>>