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.

Priscilla Rivera-fields

As a floral preservationist, I have failed and given up, years prior to actually trying again. Many people think they can watch a YouTube video and mock the details of preservation for flowers, but it takes failing multiple times, before understanding the method. In 2020, I had attempted to learn how to do floral preservations, but quickly gave up. It is an expensive hobby, that I didn’t have the patience, at the time, to learn. Fast forward to 2022, when I married my husband(Robert); he seen the wedding bouquet preservation I had an artist create for me. I mentioned, “this was what I attempted to learn, but gave up.” Robert gave me the encouragement to try again because he knew I could do it, when I had given up the first time. With lots of practice and patience, I was finally able to take my first client in October 2023. A Touch of Life Preservations has since grown full of clients that trust my work. I am grateful for all the opportunities I have been given and all of the vendors I’ve had the opportunity to work with. Read more>>

Kier Percival

It was my second pop-up event—technically my third, since the first one was also a scam. I was at a well-known venue in Houston when this guy kept pestering me about my pieces. At first, he said he wanted to buy everything on my table. I didn’t take him seriously, because, let’s be real, I don’t get excited about big claims until I see actual proof. Then he changed his tune, saying, “I’d love to just get the rings. Can you hold them for me?” I agreed, still skeptical. Read more>>

Creative Artista

Failure is something I used to fear. Not anymore. Why? It’s not an option. I always tell to anybody that’s listening that “I’m still here, putting in the work!” Failure defines the lack of success. That lack of success term doesn’t define me. I’ve come across roadblocks that prevented me from reaching my goals. I got past those roadblocks by knocking them down each time they were put up.  When I started my career in the design industry in 2008, I was privileged and lucky enough to have a mentor who guided me through my design career. Personally, that’s the biggest win for me was my mentor who was in the industry for 20 years and believed I could excel far in the design industry when I was clouded with self-doubt. Read more>>