8 Ways Embracing Failure Can Lead to Inspiration and Growth
By Brett Farmiloe
No one wants to fail; however, embracing failure can be a transformative experience. In this article, we asked eight business leaders to share personal experiences on how they have dealt with failure in the workplace. Their lessons will show that failure doesn't have to be a negative, but can be a catalyst for empowerment and growth.
Business lessons from failure
1. A firing that led to a new business
"I was fired from a job because they thought I was going to start my own firm. It wasn't true at all, but it planted a seed that maybe I could and should. So, I did two years later. That turned out to be the best decision I ever made."
—Heather Eason, SELECT Power Systems
2. A setback that became a powerful learning opportunity
"In my journey of building a life coaching business, I faced numerous setbacks that could have been easily interpreted as signs that life coaching wasn't my path. However, I chose a different perspective. I saw each failure not as a defeat, but as a crucial learning opportunity, a clear indicator of where I needed to grow and adapt. This approach did more than help me move past those early challenges; it reshaped my entire coaching methodology.
"Each setback taught me invaluable lessons about perseverance, adaptability, and the importance of a growth mindset. Today, my past failures have instilled in me a resilience that I now share with my clients, guiding them to view their own challenges not as roadblocks, but as stepping-stones to success. These experiences are now integral to my coaching philosophy, allowing me to connect with my clients on a deeper level."
—Bayu Prihandito, Life Architekture
3. Turning a missed deadline into national publicity
"I was a new executive at a tech company and woke up to an email from my counterpart. It said, 'Logan, awards were published today for Utah's fastest-growing companies. We've won that three years in a row, but weren't on the list today. What happened?' I simply didn't know about the award or its deadline.
"Embarrassed but determined, I pulled the marketing team together to brainstorm a way to turn that failure into success. The next day, we launched a press release that said, 'Motivosity forgets to apply for Fast 50 Award...and doesn't win.' That press release brought us national attention and taught us a valuable lesson: pushing through failure is better than giving up when you fail."
—Logan Mallory, Motivosity
4. An apology that resulted in professional growth
"One of the biggest shifts in my life was changing the lens on failure from something that was final to a learning opportunity. I remember, a few years into my last venture, showing up to a key meeting having fully misread the documents and being unprepared.
"Despite my best efforts, the opportunity felt wasted. While I wrestled for a few weeks with the disappointment of what felt like defeat, I decided to reach out and apologize for the miscommunication on my end. It led to a few wonderful conversations over the years with that company, and with time, a chance to redeem myself on a professional level."
—Matthew Sanjari, PRIME Consulting
5. Setbacks that helped refine one business's mission
"In my journey creating Stay Here, embracing failure played a crucial role; it carved the path for the impactful mental health organization we've built today.
"Initially, our ambition met roadblocks—our outreach approaches and tools did not resonate as expected, and our message seemed lost among those we aimed to support. It was a period filled with doubt and reconsideration of our strategies. However, this failure was a turning point. We regrouped, dug deeper into the connections we sought to make, and evolved our messaging to more genuinely meet the needs of those struggling with mental health challenges. This shift led to a more profound engagement with our audience and broadened our impact, teaching us that failure wasn't an endpoint but a redirection toward a more meaningful trajectory.
"Learning from these setbacks enabled us to refine our mission and offerings significantly. We launched targeted outreach initiatives like our ACT Suicide Prevention Training and formed strategic partnerships, ensuring that our resources were both accessible and resonant. These failures underscored the importance of adaptability and persistence. They illuminated that sometimes our greatest hurdles hide pivotal insights.
"By staying true to our core mission and being open to learning from our missteps, we've strengthened our capacity to support individuals navigating mental health crises. This journey vividly illustrates how failure, when embraced with resilience and a growth mindset, fosters innovation and expansion far beyond initial setbacks."
—Jacob Coyne, Stay Here
6. A lesson learned after almost losing a client
"A notable experience is when I almost lost a first-time client. We were running a customer segmentation project for a client in the fitness industry. I had not worked in the industry before and I did what I routinely do for other clients. I followed my detailed segmentation strategy and didn't account for some of the unique aspects of the client's customer base.
"Confident in my actions, when tracking the email open rates, I noticed a significant drop, and the conversion rate was barely near our projections. The client expressed their dissatisfaction, and so did my manager at the time. Instead of considering this as a setback and taking a step back from my duties in fear of disappointing my team again, I saw it as a lesson.
"I learned to understand each client's needs and develop an approach specifically suited for them. Fear of failing can cripple your skills and effort; don't let it."
—Valerie Lavska, Promodo
7. Detaching self-worth from outcomes to reduce fear of failure
"One strategy I've employed to embrace failure is actively detaching my self-worth from the outcome of my actions. This involves reminding myself that my value as a person is not contingent on my successes or failures. By consciously separating my identity from the results of my endeavors, I've been able to reduce the fear associated with failure.
"This practice has empowered me by allowing me to pursue opportunities without the paralyzing fear of failure. I recommend this approach because it fosters a healthier self-image and encourages a more adventurous and resilient spirit in the face of adversity."
—Ian Sells, Million Dollar Sellers
8. Taking responsibility for a failure ultimately led to success
"Embracing and acknowledging failure as a leader may far and away be the most challenging thing you'll do in your career, but if you mess up, you need to admit it. I was once the head of a new tech project, and I thought for sure that the implementation of AI to help with idea generation would work, but it didn't. And many employees felt their contributions to the project were overlooked. What I could have made the program's problem, I took responsibility for, apologized, and did whatever I could to make it right.
"There's personal and public empowerment when you admit wrongdoing, though it may not feel like it in the moment. When you acknowledge your mistake, you may feel like locking yourself in a room, but the sooner you get the Band-Aid ripped off, the sooner people will begin to forgive you, and you can then move on as a person who's known for being accountable.
"It was important for me to acknowledge how my employees were impacted, so I immediately halted the AI program and gave them back their contributions to keep for later. We scrapped the program and worked together to find a better solution. While it was challenging to gain traction with my team again, we are back now and better than ever after successfully implementing a host of tech programs since then."
—Jack Vivian, Increditools
About the Author
Post by: Brett Farmiloe
Brett Farmiloe is the founder and CEO of Featured, a platform where business leaders can answer questions related to their expertise and get published in articles featuring their insights.
Company: Featured
Website: www.featured.com
Connect with me on LinkedIn.
