Why Failure Is the Best Career Move You’ll Ever Make

Marketing Shenanigans (#017)

Starting a business that fails is one of the best career hacks out there. Here’s why failure is an investment in your future.

Here’s a question: If you want to run a marathon, how do you start? You run a mile. And maybe, the first time, you can’t even make it to the finish line.

Starting a business works the same way. Not every idea will be a home run, and that’s okay.

Here’s why: When you financially commit to a business, you’re also committing your time, energy, and effort. If the business fails, it hurts—and that’s the point. That sting means you were actually invested.

And that’s what makes failure so valuable.

The lessons you learn when something doesn’t work out? They’re the kind of lessons most people never learn because they’re too afraid to start in the first place.

Sure, failure can cost you time and money. But here’s the thing:

• That time and money were investments in learning what not to do.

• And that gives you an edge: the process of elimination.

The pain of doing something wrong teaches you to be sharper, more guarded, and more prepared to avoid those same mistakes in the future.

Think about it:

• When you fail, you’re forced to adapt.

• You learn how to pivot under pressure.

• You develop a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed.

And here’s the kicker: experience always outweighs smarts. The knowledge you gain from a failed venture is more valuable than any theory, class, or playbook. Once you’ve felt the sting of failure, you won’t want to feel it again. Instead, you’ll channel those lessons into solving problems more effectively and building something stronger.

The Takeaway

Failure isn’t a roadblock—it’s a stepping stone. It’s part of the process. The pain of failing today is the wisdom that leads to success tomorrow.

So, if you’re afraid to start, remember: failure isn’t the end. It’s just an investment in your future self.

TL;DR: Failure isn’t failure—it’s growth. Every misstep is a lesson in disguise, and the wisdom you gain today will pave the way for success tomorrow.

Cheers,

Teddy

Teddy Giard

In case you don’t already know, my name is Teddy, and I operate a firm that specializes in marketing strategies for outdoor brands. Our approach is simple: align your product development timeline with your marketing production timeline; by doing so, we can own the distribution of our message and our products.

If you’d like to explore working together, feel free to fill out this form, and if we’re a good fit, we can schedule a discovery call. We ask this because we keep a fairly narrow target for whom we work, and we like to be as open about that on the front end as possible. After all, time is life’s most valuable resource.