"Failure:" The Secret To Success
Here's the most recent blog post I wrote on my blog ChrisBrisson.com
Enjoy
I've failed.
You failed.
We all have failed.
Heck, I've created many websites and businesses I thought were going to be huge hits, but only ended up completely bombing. A site I created a couple of years ago called the "Coffee Millionaires." The concept was that there's secretly a tribe of internet millionaire's making fortunes online sitting in coffee shops around the world.
It's true. There are plenty of very successful people I know that travel, work out of coffee shops like I do, get on the internet and do business. This site I made a couple critical mistakes with this site.
But I believe in these so-called "failures" lies the secrets to success.
Think about it... you spend 6 months creating a product, not talking to any customers, your market, or anyone about their problems or challenges their facing - launch it with a hook that's completely off and it bombs.
Happens all the time.
You get that blog so perfect and never post.
It's never about the graphics or how pretty it looks, but about the content, the promise, the solution, and the BIG PROBLEM your product or service solves.
Here's why I think in "FAILURE" lies the secrets to creating a successfuly business and life...
Secret 1: You Live & Learn
So how many times have you failed?
Me?
Oh I dunno... at least 25 times. In many things. I sucked at soccer, got whooped up in football, but kicked some serious ass in wrestling. Bragging time: 3 time District runner-up, 2 time Conference runner-up, 4th in Regions, a ton of medals, prizes, trophies, and a trip to the State Championships.
I found the passion. Stuck to it. Learned, studied, practiced like a mad man, and actively went out of my way to camps, trainings, and open tournaments to prepare myself for next years matches.
This in the "trenches" learning and diligence paid off really well.
But get this...
The summer before I went on to dominate my senior year I lost 14 matches in a row doing Greco Roman off-season tournaments. I got it handed to me. Changed my strategy, yet still couldn't win a match. Now this is coming from someone who only lost 8 matches the previous season to 14 in a row.
What did I do. Not pout, but practiced harder.
Secret 2: Drop the Dud's
Ever create a product, website, or piece of software that just never really took off? I've created plenty, but after months of "trying" to get them to work, I learned to drop the dud's.
Not just because it wasn't working out, but because many of the ideas I had were only for small scale businesses. Small niches that had no growth potential.
If you're going to spend a great deal of time in and on your business, you'll want to choose a market that can support a big business. Small niche's can be dominated and taken over completely with a few simple strategies but may not be worth it for the long haul 100% of your time and energy.
Secret 3: Fail Fast
One of the biggest lessons I learned in marketing and just business in general is the notion of "failing fast."
Create it, launch it, learn from it, and fail fast.
The first design or prototype you put out will always be the worst it will ever be. Version 1.0 is going to suck. 2.0 is going to be much much better, but without first putting it out there, you'll never know. So fail fast, learn from your users, and use survey's to gather feedback of their experiences with your product or service.
Fail fast and move on to your next million dollar business...
It's right there.
Chris
Enjoy
I've failed.
You failed.
We all have failed.
Heck, I've created many websites and businesses I thought were going to be huge hits, but only ended up completely bombing. A site I created a couple of years ago called the "Coffee Millionaires." The concept was that there's secretly a tribe of internet millionaire's making fortunes online sitting in coffee shops around the world.
It's true. There are plenty of very successful people I know that travel, work out of coffee shops like I do, get on the internet and do business. This site I made a couple critical mistakes with this site.
But I believe in these so-called "failures" lies the secrets to success.
Think about it... you spend 6 months creating a product, not talking to any customers, your market, or anyone about their problems or challenges their facing - launch it with a hook that's completely off and it bombs.
Happens all the time.
You get that blog so perfect and never post.
It's never about the graphics or how pretty it looks, but about the content, the promise, the solution, and the BIG PROBLEM your product or service solves.
Here's why I think in "FAILURE" lies the secrets to creating a successfuly business and life...
Secret 1: You Live & Learn
So how many times have you failed?
Me?
Oh I dunno... at least 25 times. In many things. I sucked at soccer, got whooped up in football, but kicked some serious ass in wrestling. Bragging time: 3 time District runner-up, 2 time Conference runner-up, 4th in Regions, a ton of medals, prizes, trophies, and a trip to the State Championships.
I found the passion. Stuck to it. Learned, studied, practiced like a mad man, and actively went out of my way to camps, trainings, and open tournaments to prepare myself for next years matches.
This in the "trenches" learning and diligence paid off really well.
But get this...
The summer before I went on to dominate my senior year I lost 14 matches in a row doing Greco Roman off-season tournaments. I got it handed to me. Changed my strategy, yet still couldn't win a match. Now this is coming from someone who only lost 8 matches the previous season to 14 in a row.
What did I do. Not pout, but practiced harder.
Secret 2: Drop the Dud's
Ever create a product, website, or piece of software that just never really took off? I've created plenty, but after months of "trying" to get them to work, I learned to drop the dud's.
Not just because it wasn't working out, but because many of the ideas I had were only for small scale businesses. Small niches that had no growth potential.
If you're going to spend a great deal of time in and on your business, you'll want to choose a market that can support a big business. Small niche's can be dominated and taken over completely with a few simple strategies but may not be worth it for the long haul 100% of your time and energy.
Secret 3: Fail Fast
One of the biggest lessons I learned in marketing and just business in general is the notion of "failing fast."
Create it, launch it, learn from it, and fail fast.
The first design or prototype you put out will always be the worst it will ever be. Version 1.0 is going to suck. 2.0 is going to be much much better, but without first putting it out there, you'll never know. So fail fast, learn from your users, and use survey's to gather feedback of their experiences with your product or service.
Fail fast and move on to your next million dollar business...
It's right there.
Chris