Failing is the only way to win

My first business website had a typo on the home page. I was offering proofreading services.

My first podcast episode was done with my Apple headset with amateur editing, and I had no idea what I was doing. Almost no one listened.

My first big risk in my business, a retreat for professionals looking to transition into their next phase of influence, failed faster than you can say “oops” and cost me a small fortune to cancel the contract with the hotel.

My first big co-business venture—a technology platform—never really got past the ideation and planning stage. I had invested more than a year into it.

Our first big move abroad as a family was not what we expected. Less than a year (and some harrowing experiences) later, we left Thailand.

My first course was a failure. Hardly anyone enrolled (and it was such a good course too).

And I fail regularly as a mom, wife, friend, daughter, sister, and person navigating the wide, weird world we live in.

But here’s the thing: every failure leads us to where we are meant to be. I believe this at the core of my core. Even with the many failures I’ve experienced—and I’ve shared a fraction of them with you here—I believe we can learn and grow from our failures.

So when you fail, own it. Don’t let others say, “No, you didn’t fail! I wouldn’t call that failure.”

Because they will. They’ll try to sugarcoat the greatest lessons of your life. They’ll try to be supportive, but what they’re really doing is keeping you from learning hard lessons, dusting yourself off, and trying again.

If I had let my many failures get me down, I wouldn’t be living the life I dreamed of here in Portugal. I wouldn’t be a multi-best-selling author. I wouldn’t be running a successful location independent business. I wouldn’t be speaking globally. And I certainly wouldn’t have the great honor of helping others do the same, with authorhood as a catalyst for their wildest dreams.

So dream big. Fail huge. Then dust yourself off and go after it again. Eventually, something will stick. Eventually, with persistence, you’ll make your wildest dreams happen.

With all that said, tell me: What is one failure you’ve had recently? How will you grow from it? Comment below and share. I always look forward to hearing from you.