It’s Okay To Fail

Failing? Do It Fast…

It’s okay to fail. There, I said it!

Often, people will tell you that failing is bad, a negative. The only negative with failing is not getting up and trying again. Not learning from it, not adapting.

In Japan, there is a phrase that captures the spirit of perseverance: Nanakorobi yaoki” (七転び八起き). It literally means “fall down 7 times, stand up 8”. It reflects the idea that no matter how many times life knocks you down, you keep getting back up.

It’s about never letting the failing be the end of your story. It’s all about resilience.

Fast failing allows you to do this. But it is not about accepting or encouraging failure.

The underlying philosophy is that mistakes are an inevitable part of innovation. The faster you identify and learn that something isn’t working, the sooner you can adapt it, saving valuable time and resources.

It is often associated with software development or start-up culture, but it equally applies in your business (whatever your business is) and your day-to-day life.

The Principles Of Nanakorobi Kaoki

Learn from failure – Don’t view mistakes or failures as negative outcomes, but as crucial insights for future success. For example, you want to run 5KM. The first time you do it, you can only run for 1.5KM. The second time you do it, you run for 1.6KM. The tenth time you do it, you run 2.5KM. The point is that you didn’t give up.

Get early feedback – Gather the data to validate or invalidate ideas quickly. It doesn’t need to be numbers. Take the 5KM example used above. On day one, you ran for 1.5KM, but after the tenth time, you got a niggle, a painful muscle, a painful joint. That is feedback. Maybe you’re pushing too fast, too soon; or maybe running isn’t for you. That’s okay.

Cut your losses – Stop investing in approaches that are clearly not working. This could be financial, especially in business, but TIME is an expensive resource. Time is a finite resource – we all only have 24 hours in a day, and once it is passed, we can’t get it back. If you figure that running is not for you and it is causing physical distress, don’t invest your time in it. Use that time more effectively to reach your goals.

Minimise risk – When you discover problems early, before major investment, it makes the “fail” cheap. Take the 5KM again, if you started by buying all the kit – expensive shoes, run belts, hydration vests, etc. – and then you stop running, you may have wasted your money. If you only end up running ten times and then find yoga is better for you, the shoe investment could be pretty steep.

Rapid Iteration – Quickly working through options, or getting something into someone’s hands, early tests assumptions quickly and effectively. The sooner you find the thing that works, the sooner you can invest in that and start to reap the benefits. But remember, you need to continue to follow the fast fail process. It won’t stop.

It’s Okay To Fail!

Fast failing is not an exact science; it is simply trial and error. However, what you can benefit from is finding out what works quicker. You can save untold resources, untold emotional stress, and untold lost money. Remember, the time that has passed is not refundable – you can’t get it back.

Don’t be afraid to experiment, don’t be afraid to change or pivot frequently.

It was 16 days ago (as I am writing this) that I launched Sarah A Pearce. It’s changed in those 16 days – no one else knows the changes, but I’m adapting and tweaking as I present who I am and what I do. How I talk about it has changed, and what I offer and what I accept as commissions will change over time.

I’m comfortable with those changes. Will I make the wrong changes? Without a doubt, but I am working towards my life having purpose. I don’t think I will ever be comfortable, but if I am 80% happy about what I’m doing, then that’s a win.

How can you adapt what you do or how you live your life to increase resilience?

  • “Experienced & Gifted”

    Sarah is an experienced and gifted marketeer whose hard work and determination set her apart in the leisure industry. Sarah is open to new ideas and challenges to grow her business. I have no hesitation in recommending Sarah and her skills to drive forward business in a commercial and considered manner.

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