Why Failure is Your Best Friend

You know that feeling when you’ve been sitting on an idea for way too long? You tweak, you refine, you hold off because it’s not “ready” yet. And before you know it, months have passed, and the idea has either lost its spark or someone else has already done it.

I’ve been there. We all have.

The truth is, perfection is a trap. And the longer we chase it, the further we get from actually making things happen. That’s why one of the best lessons I’ve learned—especially in business, startups, and creative work—is this: launch early, learn quickly.

Why Failure is a Good Thing

Most people are afraid to fail. We’re taught from a young age that failure is something to avoid at all costs. But in reality, failure is just feedback. It’s proof that you’re doing something, testing the waters, figuring out what works and what doesn’t.

When you stumble early, you get that feedback sooner. And the sooner you get it, the sooner you can adjust, improve, and move forward. Think of it like a scientist running experiments. If one test doesn’t work, they don’t pack up and go home—they tweak a few variables and try again. That’s the mindset we need to embrace.

Starting Early: The Key to Progress

If learning quickly is about adapting, then starting early is about getting in the game before you feel ready. The biggest enemy of progress is waiting for things to be perfect. If you put something out there today, even if it’s rough, you’re already ahead of someone still sitting on their idea.

The best companies and creators understand this. Take software startups—they launch a basic version of their product (an MVP) rather than waiting for a flawless, bug-free masterpiece. They know that by getting something out into the world, they can get real feedback from real users and improve along the way.

This principle applies to almost anything. Writing, launching a business, starting a YouTube channel—whatever it is, just put it out there.

Failure Isn’t the Opposite of Success—It’s Part of It

If you look at anyone who’s ever done something great, they didn’t get there by nailing it on the first try. They got there because they kept trying.

• Elon Musk had multiple rocket failures before SpaceX took off.

• Steve Jobs got fired from his own company before coming back and revolutionizing Apple.

• J.K. Rowling was rejected by a dozen publishers before Harry Potter saw the light of day.

They didn’t succeed despite their failures. They succeeded because of them.

Just Start. Now.

If there’s one takeaway here, it’s this: start before you feel ready, and don’t be afraid to mess up.
The earlier you start, the faster you’ll learn, and the better you’ll get.

It’s messy. It’s uncomfortable. But it’s also the fastest way to make something real.

And at the end of the day, isn’t that what really matters?