Few things in life are guaranteed. But there’s one thing that you can absolutely take to the bank: You will fail. You’ll blow the sale, fumble the date, whiff the interview, get lost, finish last, and generally look and feel like an idiot.   In order to view the video, please allow Manage Cookies

  This is a good thing. Because while success is the metric by which we’re judged, failure is the mechanism that shapes us. It’s a by-product of living boldly, a symptom of refusing to play it safe, the fertilizer for developing character and grit. The trick is to learn how to use failure to your advantage—rather than let it steamroll your soul.

The New Rules of Goal Setting

Read article

The secret? You have to believe, despite all available evidence, that your latest screwup was not, in fact, an unrecoverable setback but a hiccup that, in a weird cosmic way, bettered you in the long run. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy: Trust that a failure makes you kinder, smarter, stronger—and it will. Psychologists basically all agree on this. The catch is that though flubbing is nothing new, these days it’s a decidedly different experience than ever before. The reason: social media. Your latest breakup, layoff, or embarrassment is now potentially, and likely, on full display to your friends, family, and colleagues. Social media can also make you feel like a failure, with everyone on Instagram #crushingit 24/7. No surprise, according to a 2017 study, 60 percent of social-media users report that it negatively affects their self-esteem. But, frankly, forget wallowing in defeat or negativity, because, as Truman Capote said, “Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.” And take heart in the fact that almost anything worthwhile is preceded by some gnarly shit-eating and floundering, and that whatever doesn’t ravage your confidence and self-worth will make you not only stronger but also bolder, happier—and, with a little luck, wiser. Here’s a look at all the essays from our Art of the Fail series.

How I Bombed a Spartan Death Race

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How Alexis Ohanian’s Spectacular Flop of a Startup Led to the Creation of Reddit

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How My Horrendous Cooking Caused an Evacuation

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What Not to Post on Social Media if You Get Dumped, Fired, or Foolishly Hurt You…

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Comedian H. Jon Benjamin Discusses the Merits of Totally Screwing Up

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Michael Strahan on the Super Bowl Loss That Shaped His Success

Read article

How I Cheated on Whole30 Behind My Wife’s Back

Read article

How I Blew a Marriage Proposal

Read article

How I Coached a 1-17 Junior-varsity Basketball Team

Read article

How I Accidentally Neglected My Toddler

Read article

Ultrarunner Karl Meltzer on the Hard Way to Learn Resilience

Read article

How I Crashed and Burned a Startup

Read article

A Quick Guide on Unsuccess Rates in America

Read article

The 11 Worst Failures in History

Read article

For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!

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Few things in life are guaranteed. But there’s one thing that you can absolutely take to the bank: You will fail. You’ll blow the sale, fumble the date, whiff the interview, get lost, finish last, and generally look and feel like an idiot.

 

In order to view the video, please allow Manage Cookies

This is a good thing.

Because while success is the metric by which we’re judged, failure is the mechanism that shapes us. It’s a by-product of living boldly, a symptom of refusing to play it safe, the fertilizer for developing character and grit. The trick is to learn how to use failure to your advantage—rather than let it steamroll your soul.

The New Rules of Goal Setting

Read article

The secret? You have to believe, despite all available evidence, that your latest screwup was not, in fact, an unrecoverable setback but a hiccup that, in a weird cosmic way, bettered you in the long run. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy: Trust that a failure makes you kinder, smarter, stronger—and it will. Psychologists basically all agree on this.

The New Rules of Goal Setting

Read article

The New Rules of Goal Setting

The catch is that though flubbing is nothing new, these days it’s a decidedly different experience than ever before. The reason: social media. Your latest breakup, layoff, or embarrassment is now potentially, and likely, on full display to your friends, family, and colleagues. Social media can also make you feel like a failure, with everyone on Instagram #crushingit 24/7. No surprise, according to a 2017 study, 60 percent of social-media users report that it negatively affects their self-esteem.

But, frankly, forget wallowing in defeat or negativity, because, as Truman Capote said, “Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.”

And take heart in the fact that almost anything worthwhile is preceded by some gnarly shit-eating and floundering, and that whatever doesn’t ravage your confidence and self-worth will make you not only stronger but also bolder, happier—and, with a little luck, wiser.

Here’s a look at all the essays from our Art of the Fail series.

How I Bombed a Spartan Death Race

Read article

How Alexis Ohanian’s Spectacular Flop of a Startup Led to the Creation of Reddit

Read article

How My Horrendous Cooking Caused an Evacuation

Read article

What Not to Post on Social Media if You Get Dumped, Fired, or Foolishly Hurt You…

Read article

Comedian H. Jon Benjamin Discusses the Merits of Totally Screwing Up

Read article

Michael Strahan on the Super Bowl Loss That Shaped His Success

Read article

How I Cheated on Whole30 Behind My Wife’s Back

Read article

How I Blew a Marriage Proposal

Read article

How I Coached a 1-17 Junior-varsity Basketball Team

Read article

How I Accidentally Neglected My Toddler

Read article

Ultrarunner Karl Meltzer on the Hard Way to Learn Resilience

Read article

How I Crashed and Burned a Startup

Read article

A Quick Guide on Unsuccess Rates in America

Read article

The 11 Worst Failures in History

Read article

For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!

How I Bombed a Spartan Death Race

Read article

How I Bombed a Spartan Death Race

How Alexis Ohanian’s Spectacular Flop of a Startup Led to the Creation of Reddit

Read article

How Alexis Ohanian’s Spectacular Flop of a Startup Led to the Creation of Reddit

How My Horrendous Cooking Caused an Evacuation

Read article

How My Horrendous Cooking Caused an Evacuation

What Not to Post on Social Media if You Get Dumped, Fired, or Foolishly Hurt You…

Read article

What Not to Post on Social Media if You Get Dumped, Fired, or Foolishly Hurt You…

Comedian H. Jon Benjamin Discusses the Merits of Totally Screwing Up

Read article

Comedian H. Jon Benjamin Discusses the Merits of Totally Screwing Up

Michael Strahan on the Super Bowl Loss That Shaped His Success

Read article

Michael Strahan on the Super Bowl Loss That Shaped His Success

How I Cheated on Whole30 Behind My Wife’s Back

Read article

How I Cheated on Whole30 Behind My Wife’s Back

How I Blew a Marriage Proposal

Read article

How I Blew a Marriage Proposal

How I Coached a 1-17 Junior-varsity Basketball Team

Read article

How I Coached a 1-17 Junior-varsity Basketball Team

How I Accidentally Neglected My Toddler

Read article

How I Accidentally Neglected My Toddler

Ultrarunner Karl Meltzer on the Hard Way to Learn Resilience

Read article

Ultrarunner Karl Meltzer on the Hard Way to Learn Resilience

How I Crashed and Burned a Startup

Read article

How I Crashed and Burned a Startup

A Quick Guide on Unsuccess Rates in America

Read article

A Quick Guide on Unsuccess Rates in America

The 11 Worst Failures in History

Read article

The 11 Worst Failures in History

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					Fuel Up For Your Workouts With Core Power Protein Shakes					



					Best Testosterone Booster: Top 5 Supplements For Men of 2023					



					Best Green Powders of 2023 to Boost Your Health					



					Fortify Your Body With The Optimum Nutrition Multivitamin					


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							The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More							





							Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey							





							Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City							

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					The Best Mindfulness Apps for 2023, According to Experts					



					Work on That Core With The Vinsguir Ab Roller in Your Home					



					Fuel Up For Your Workouts With Core Power Protein Shakes					



					Best Testosterone Booster: Top 5 Supplements For Men of 2023					



					Best Green Powders of 2023 to Boost Your Health					



					Fortify Your Body With The Optimum Nutrition Multivitamin					


			All Stories			

More Videos

							The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More							





							Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey							





							Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City							

More Videos

							The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More							





							Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey							





							Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City							

More Videos

							The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More							





							Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey							





							Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City