, Think You’re “Failing?”

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Hi !

How are you? No, really, how are you doing? Hit reply and let me know…

In the last edition, we tore down those “perfectly safe” comfort zones. You know, the ones that keep us from stepping past the line and making room for innovation.

A bunch of you told me you tried something wild, and nearly had a heart attack in the process. Love it. If your pulse races, you’re onto something big.

This time, let’s talk about the dreaded “F” word: Failure.

If your gut just dropped, good.

What you think is a disaster might actually be the fuel you need.

Yep. your mess-ups are more than scary moments. They may actually lead to breakthroughs you never saw coming.

What’s In It For You:

• Mindset Alchemy: Learn to convert “failure” into the very thing that takes you forward.

• Bold Tactics: Fresh, borderline-rogue methods for using slip-ups without losing your cool.

• Case Study: Witness a massive brand that bungled a big pivot and came back stronger than ever.

Let’s Talk About Failure (No, Really)

I used to be that leader who saw every mistake as a personal catastrophe. One missed deadline? I’d be pacing around, rewriting my entire career story in my head.

Sound familiar? Don’t stress, it’s just your survival instincts talking.

But let me tell you how it really went down: Some of the biggest leaps in leadership show up right after.

Burnout meltdown? Check, turn it into a deeper understanding of self-care.

Botched a pitch? Sure, learn to refine my communication game.

Every flop can offer a clue to something bigger, better, more aligned.

Trust me: The minute you let mistakes become your teachers, you’ll see them for what they are, opportunities wrapped in a slightly humiliating package.

Hacks for the Brave (Yes, Again)

1. “Celebration of Oops” Ritual
   Host a monthly gathering (wine optional, but recommended) where everyone shares their most spectacular fail. Offer a trophy, a paper crown, or just bragging rights. Normalising misfires crushes shame and ramps up creative risks.

2. The Post-Mortem Switcheroo
   Hand your train wreck to a team that wasn’t involved. They’ll dissect it with zero emotional baggage. You’ll get raw, honest feedback, plus a fresh perspective. It’s like letting a friend rummage through your junk drawer; they see what you’ve been ignoring for ages.

3. Fail-Forward Brainstorms
   Carve out 15 minutes for your team to list every horrifying way your next project could bomb. Then flip that list into solutions. Fear is powerful, steer it like a Ferrari instead of letting it drive you off a cliff.

Case Study: Netflix’s Qwikster Fiasco

Remember when Netflix tried to split off its DVD service as “Qwikster,” and the Internet basically said, “Thanks, but no thanks?” It was an epic fail, costing them almost a million subscribers. The silver lining? That flop forced them to laser-focus on streaming, leading to the Netflix empire we binge-watch today.

The takeaway: A big stumble can become your pivot point if you own it and do the course correction fast.

“Black Box Thinking” by Matthew Syed

If you’re hungry for a deeper exploration of turning wrecks into revelations, snag “Black Box Thinking.”

It’s all about how industries like aviation and healthcare evolve by obsessively studying their failures rather than burying them. Perfect if you want a system to transform flops into unstoppable momentum.

Quick Note: Schedule Your Free 30-Minute Clarity Call

Feeling bruised by a recent flop, or worried you’ll never crawl out of that meltdown zone? I’ve been there, got the stress wrinkles to prove it.

Let’s craft a roadmap to help you harness every mishap for growth, instead of letting them define you.

Ready to turn your “oops” into your next big opportunity?

👉 Schedule your complimentary 30-minute clarity call here

Let's Reflect:

1. When did you last highlight a mistake in front of your team?

2. Do you instantly bury your errors or do you mine them for lessons?

3. How would your decisions change if you treated failure as an ally instead of an enemy?

Fun Corner

Failure Bingo

• Sketch out a bingo card filled with common fails, like “Ran out of coffee mid-meeting” or “Misread an important email.”

• Every time you commit one of these blunders, mark it down.

• Shout “BINGO!” the moment you line ‘em up. Your prize? Sharing what you learned.

It’s silly, yes. But it flips mistakes into a game, something to be noted, not hidden.

Thank you to everyone who responded last week!

A Personal Reflection

I vividly recall the day I pitched a hyper-ambitious project to a skeptical audience.

Felt like I swallowed a wasp as soon as they started poking holes.

The talk went badly. I spent a few nights replaying every cringe-inducing moment in my head. Then I forced myself to map out exactly where things went off the rails.

Sometimes, we need that sting to fine-tune our message.

The Final Word

Failure isn’t a dead end. It’s more like a fork in the road, pointing you towards something better. If you’re willing to own it, dissect it, and rebuild from the rubble.

Avoid it all you want, but you’ll miss the diamond hidden in that rough patch.

Share Your Thoughts

Got a fiasco you’re secretly proud of? Maybe a meltdown that led to your biggest a-ha moment? Hit reply.

I want the gory details (no sugarcoating). Let’s break the taboo around failure and share the war stories that actually matter.

How Else I Can Help

I also offer consulting services based on my senior leadership experience and am available for speaking engagements, including events, keynotes, podcasts, and course recordings.

For further details, contact me here or reply to this email.

Thanks for reading and see you next time!

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