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
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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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Fortify Your Body With The Optimum Nutrition Multivitamin
All Stories
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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
More News
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 News
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