You might think I’m crazy. Failure! What’s to love about failure?
Failure brings up thoughts of “lack” like:
- not good enough
- not smart enough
- wasted money
- wasted time
- setback
Those are just benefits of failure. Well maybe not benefits but they lead to benefits.
When we try something new, we are experimenting. Experimentation leads to new discoveries. Discoveries lead to growth. Growth leads to establishing yourself, your brand, and your products. It makes you STANDout™, be in demand and create an income worthy of your genius work.
If you ask savvy business people what their best tip is for success they will say failure. They want you to develop your ideas into products as quickly as possible, get it out into the marketplace and test it’s validity and appeal.
The biggest mistake we make is working on something too long before testing it. Then you get more attached, more expenses associated, and more time wasted.
The feedback you get, if you ask the right questions and are open to criticism, will allow you to go back to your studio and develop the next evolution of your work. How tough is your skin and how willing are you to ask the right questions (that might be a bit painful)?
How do you do that? Remove yourself from the attachment by putting on your CEO hat. The CEO of Coca Cola doesn’t take it personally when someone says his product doesn’t taste good. He asks questions to see if he can make it better.
Being at a show that didn’t result in a lot of sales could be viewed as a failure, but guess what, if you were smart you asked other people what their sales were like. You asked them where better sales can be made at other shows.
You made connections with other artists to form collaborative groups. You took the “down time” to talk to possible supporters (galleries, suppliers, editors, educators, etc). You created community that will bring you opportunities and inside info that can make a difference in your business.
Success is about getting it out there. Sharing it with others and getting that feedback, no matter if it’s a success or a failure. Then picking up your big girl (or guy) panties and figuring out how to make it better. Finding that breakthrough!
When we get complacent and seek comfort we stop growing…personally and professionally. We quickly get forgotten and dropped in the mind of shoppers and collectors. Collectors look for artists that push the envelope, do something that no one else is doing and are willing to go out on a limb to fail or succeed wildly.
I want for you more thrills, more excitement, more successes! I want you to fail fast with each endeavor that isn’t right for your path of success so that it leads to your next success.
I’ve had my own fair share of failures which have lead to the next launch. It works until it fails again. For me it’s been 18 years of wildly successful failures!
Sure it might get a little disappointing when it doesn’t work out, but that’s okay. I just remind myself that there is something else better waiting for me to launch, do or be.
There’s a saying when it comes to prospects or potential sales: SWSWSWSW
This stands for some will, some won’t, so what, someone is waiting -behind them to say yes.
Why not adapt SWSWSWSW to every show, every launch, every new collection:
Some will be successful, some won’t be successful, so what, success is waiting for me…now pick yourself up and get out there again!
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