Failure Required

“I wasted so much time.”

It’s the gut punch we give ourselves when a venture flops, when a job ends in burnout, or when we abandon another side hustle. We scroll past success stories on Instagram, comparing our timeline to someone else’s highlight reel. And we start to believe the lie: “None of it mattered.”

But here’s the truth:

Every “failure” gave you something.

And more often than not, it’s the kind of something that doesn’t show up on paper—yet becomes the foundation of every win that follows.

Let’s break it down:

1. Skills stack silently

You might have ditched that YouTube channel or eBook halfway through—but you learned video editing, writing hooks, how to show up consistently, and how brutal self-doubt can feel. Those skills will transfer. They always do.

Your brain doesn’t throw away experience. It reuses it in smarter ways next time.

2. You learned how not to do it

Failing fast often teaches you faster than success ever could. Every launch that flopped? Every cold email ignored? Those were reps. Now you know what doesn’t work. And that clarity is gold.

3. You discovered your threshold

Burnout from a toxic job taught you what boundaries are non-negotiable. A failed partnership showed you what values you’ll never compromise on again. Discomfort isn’t weakness—it’s data.

4. You built resilience you’ll need later

Think of each failure like weightlifting. Every emotional rep you pushed through gave you mental strength. That “wasted” time toughened you. Next time, you’ll last longer in the ring.

The Invisible ROI of Failure

We think of ROI (return on investment) in dollars and stats. But what if the ROI of failure is invisible?

Self-awareness Humility Pattern recognition Better taste and instincts Knowing when to quit and when to double down

If you’re reading this thinking, “Yeah, but I’m still nowhere,”—I get it. But you’re not starting from scratch anymore. You’re starting from experience.

So What Now?

Stop treating your past as a burden. Start treating it like a blueprint. Review your “failures” not as gravestones but as mile markers. Ask:

What did I learn there? What can I carry into the next thing? What didn’t work—and why? Where did I feel most alive?

Write it down. Use it. Build something better this time. Because nothing is truly wasted when you’re paying attention.

Bottom line:

You didn’t fail.

You trained.

Now go build with what you’ve got.