Heeaaaaay!! I’m back in the saddle after a crazy whirlwind month.
First, I was in D.C. for the Summit Series speaking on a Women’s Business Leadership panel. Super good times.
Besides killer networking and all night dance parties, I also had the pleasure of hearing Russell Simmons, Ted Turner and Bill Clinton speak.
Pretty epic line-up.
My favorite line from Russell was (and I’m paraphrasing), “Many of my biggest business endeavors were failures before they became a success. Some failed for as long as six years before they hit. Everyone around me thought I was crazy. You just have to stay at it.”
Interesting, right? Loads of business “failures” coming from an entrepreneur with a multi-passionate net worth of an estimated $340 million.
On that same trip, I also had the pleasure of some RIDICULOUSLY good close up magic from the incomparable David Blaine.
I didn’t know that much about him before meeting him, but let me tell you, this guy is friggin’ s-i-c-k.
While I was holding playing cards in my hands he managed to make them jump, tear, flip and completely transform. Talk about jaw-dropping. After hanging out with him, I became mildly obsessed and went online to watch everything I could about his other high-profile feats.
Turns out, David gave an amazing TED talk about his many attempts to break the world’s record for holding his breath underwater.
He did some pretty crazy and outrageous shit to get there. And, a lot of his failed attempts were very public.
Like to the tune of millions and millions of people around the world watching him fail to before he finally succeeded with a mind-blowing time of 17 minutes and 4.4 seconds.
Despite all the public disappointment, criticism and embarrassment, Blaine stuck to it.
He kept changing his strategy and eventually, achieved his goal. He continues to be one of the most legendary illusionists and endurance artists of our time.
And last weekend, I was in San Diego at the Hard Rock Hotel for an event held by one of my friends and favorite marketing mentors, Frank Kern.
Turns out Frank, too, had some pretty seismic stumbles in business (he got sued by the Feds and was nearly bankrupt) before becoming one of the most highly respected, highest paid and most sought after online marketing consultants on the planet.
Side note: one of my favorite nuggets from that weekend was Frank’s response to a question on how to write a sales letter: “You sit down and fucking do it.” Now you know why we’re friends.
So what’s the point here?
Anyone who accomplishes great things in business and life is bound to “fail” along the way.
Feeling like a failure is a natural part of becoming a success. It’s actually a good thing and means you’re taking action and putting yourself out there.
Which is WAY more than most critics and naysayers have the balls to do.
I’ll be the first to admit I feel like a failure. Often.
You’d be shocked and likely want to shake me silly if you knew how much money and time I’ve wasted on “information products” and “business systems” that didn’t work.
And then there’s all the cash, time and energy I’ve burned hiring programmers, expensive virtual assistants and designers for projects that never saw the light of day!
Of course, I learned something from each experience so in a very real sense, they did work. But at the same time, they could accurately be considered “failures” too.
The bottom line is this.
Feeling like a failure is normal. It means you’re human like the rest of us.
Legendary success in any field requires a shit ton of stick-to-it-ness.
When you know you’re meant to birth an idea into existence, take it from Russell, David, Frank and yours truly: feeling like a failure often means you’re moments away from your biggest success.
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LOVE this Marie, Thanks so much for sharing! xoxo
You’re welcome Precious! Miss ya lady
I loved to read this, Marie. It is so true. Also life has so many more colours, if we just go for our dreams. I’m so happy, I’m still on the track. Thank you for sharing the love and just being right in time (once again) with your post
Hugs from Switzerland, Stephanie.
Thank YOU for sharing some love from Switzerland Stephanie!!
@Stephanie: would be nice to get in contact… as i’m from Switzerland too
@claro, die frage ist nur, wie wir das auf eine sichere weise tun können? ohne, dass wir hier unsere email adressen publizieren…bin gespannt auf dich
hier ist meine Emailadressse: cibi7788[at]yahoo.com
hab die mal schnell erstellt
The sales letter advice is great – I bet that applies to just about everything. I guess if you don’t feel like a failure or a success maybe you’re just not doing anything. Thanks for the reminder.
Rrrright on Maureen. One of my favorite lines ever. It’s the Jersey take on the Nike line. “Just fucking do it.”
Wow! Perfect message with perfect timing as always! I missed you! Thanks for inspiring me to stick to it, no matter what feelings may come about success or failure.
One of your greatest fans,
Kris
Super big thanks Kris!!
Great message. Thx for sharing!
Love this! Exactly the wake up call I needed right now! Thank you Marie!!! Love, Chantal M.
I was attending the Providence Fashion Week last night with a friend who is a Stylist, and as I sat watching the runway shows, I reminded myself that we do a lot of assumption making around other people. I was scanning through the crowd wondering who some of these people were, thinking only of all the successes they must have. Sometimes we need to remember that the common ground we share is to TRY. To Take A Risk. I love being around others who inspire and motivate me, and who are honest about their experiences. Instead of feeling like failures we must use that energy as part of the momentum.
Thanks Marie.
I love what you wrote here Hannah! It’s so funny – at events like that it’s easy to assume everyone else has it together. Even if I don’t “like” what someone else is up to/what they’ve created, I always give them props for getting out there and doing it. Takes courage and heart to create and for that, I’m always inspired!
Marie, I think you should sell a poster with a picture of you and the word “FAILURE” in a thought bubble over your head. Because remembering that you sometimes feel like a failure is always comforting when I feel like a failure.
One great remedy for that feeling, when I’m able to drag myself out of the misery stupor and back into action, is to do something else creative right away that might undo the failure. Like, if I write a blog post that I think sucks, the only cure is a better blog post to take off the edge. The more you do, the smaller each “failure” is. The less you do, the larger it looms.
Another remedy is time. I remember things I wrote that didn’t go over well. There was an assignment once that my boss handed to another writer because my script sucked so bad. At the time, I was crushed and thought I’d never recover. Now, years later, i think it’s hilarious.
xo
.-= Lbelgray´s last blog ..The fat jeans stay: tales of a closet case =-.
Love it Belgray. And yes, those IMPORTANT failures often become hilarious in retrospect (ahhh – the magic of time!) Time for ice bevie walk soon!
“feeling like a failure often means you’re moments away from your biggest success”
This could not possibly be any more relevant. Thank you M!
Hi Marie,
I just read this line:
“feeling like a failure often means you’re moments away from your biggest success.”
and I hope it’s true. I’ve just launched performtoprofit.com and I’m doing absolutely everything I can think of and know how to do to get the word out..I feel like it might be a failure…but I’m staying positive to the end.
Thanks for the post…it helps!
Tracy
i love this too.
either you are failing somtimes, or you are stuck completely.
i learn so much more from the things that don’t go “well”.
.-= ABCcreativity´s last blog ..{creating dreams come true} beneath the surface dreams are growing. trust this. =-.
Hi Marie
Just watched your video with Tony Robbins over the weekend. I thought it was great !! Looking forward to folling your stuff!!
Angel
This is just what I needed to hear today Marie
Nice to know we’re not alone and that we all feel like “failures” at one point or another!
Just when I needed to hear this most, you pop out of nowhere!!!!
Thanks girl, and again, it was so nice meeting you at Summit Series!
xoxo
Thanks for this Marie. I’ve been feeling like a failure a lot lately.
I don’t let it bother me long. I just keep doing my thing.
But the inspiration definitley helps!
Le
Love this – “You sit down and fucking do it.” Off to take Frank’s advice right this very second.
.-= Amber McCue´s last blog ..My Name is Amber & I’m a Multi-Passionate Entrepreneur (Who is Interested In Your Feedback) =-.
Hey Marie!
Good to see you back
I LOVE this post, and even though I know this simple truth already – I still need to be reminded of it once in a while…
You’re one of my role models in business, so hearing you say that you’ve failed a bit before you learned what works makes me move my butt!
Thanks
So needed it right now!
Tania
Wow, this is a great boost for me today:
“Legendary success in any field requires a shit ton of stick-to-it-ness”
I have a ton of things that I just need to “fucking do” and I need to stick to it….thanks for the motivator!
xoxox
Looks like you had a wonderfully productive time out there!
When I feel like a failure I like to remind myself that Michael Jordan (not that I compare myself…) was cut from his high school basketball team (!).
Thank you for the inspiring post.
Linda
OMG Marie! I don’t know if you’ve read my mind or something, but I was just going through one of those “I feel like a failure” moments – and I went to check my e-mails and saw your post about this exact same topic! It was really what I needed to read right now and I’m glad it put my mind back into perspective. Despite all the negative energy I’m getting, I’m happy that I’m putting myself out there doing what I always wanted to do without regrets! Thanks again for sharing and yes, “failure often means I’m moments away from my biggest success!” I’m sending you loads of positive energy! -xo
Marie, I LOVED your blog post. It’s so true what you say about people “failing.” If you’re not putting yourself out there in a way that could fail big, you’re not putting yourself out there to win big. If you want some more inspiration for “failures” that turned successful, check out this blog post:
http://www.equilawbrium.com/Equilawbrium/Blog/Entries/2010/4/21_Failing__A_Surefire_Way_to_Success.html
Yes…ah yes.
Always love the reminder that failures are the gateway to success…you just got to keep at it!
The fear of failure can be a major roadblock if we focus on it as a bad thing– that’s why I wrote this little note to myself on my desktop:
“To go in the direction of your dreams you must also go in the direction of your fears.”
After looking at where so far on my path I have “failed” I do feel like I am “moments away from success”
Thanks for that, Marie!
.-= MorganDayCecil´s last blog ..R+A Lifestyler Interview with Dave Navarro =-.
God I love it when synchonicity strikes!!! In the final weeks before my first ever coaching program launch I am SO experiencing everything you’ve described… and then some! Today was particulary ass kicking and then I read a small blurb on failure randomly, and now your blog… THANK YOU MARIE! You’re fabulous and my business role model… And as for fear, f*ck it, I jumping right in
Osmara
http://www.fearlesslyfabulous.com/welcome
…but what if your career/business is in good shape…but you fail miserably when it comes to personal life, relationships, etc It’s been about 5 years since I go from struggle to more struggle. Why is NY so difficult in finding the right guy ?
*Love* it, Marie… your post reminds me of one of my favorite quotes, “Man in the Arena” by Theodore Roosevelt…
“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”
Thank you! Just what I needed to hear. It encourages me to hear that folk I admire, who have achieved much, have experienced the same “type of challenges” that I face (who knew?!). Your testimony shows that failures are common but more importantly that we must “hang in there”. You rock!
No one reaches the top without a “failure.” In fact, dozens of “failures” I am guessing!
When my kids don’t do well on a test at school, I ask what they learned from that. It’s what tests are FOR – to teach you what you know and don’t know so you can get better!
Thank GOD for failures. How else would we learn?
Frank got it right with his advice. There is no sugar coating what it takes, sorry!
Thanks!
EXPECT Success!
Jackie Ulmer
.-= Jackie Ulmer´s last blog ..Are You Challenged With Keeping Your Business Focus and Avoiding Distractions? =-.
Marie! Big thanks — I was having a Monday… You always jump off the page right in my face, and that’s a good thing. ; ) Whenever I feel like I failure at one thing, I remind myself of all the other areas in which I succeed. If I apply what I know in those areas to where I feel weakest, that sometimes helps. In the end, hubby loves my banana bread, you know? You have to remember to succeed where it counts most & keep working at the rest…
THANK YOU! Wow, Marie. You have no idea how perfect this blog was today. Literally, 20 minutes ago I was driving home thinking about what a freaking failure I was and how I’m going to dig myself out of this hole I’ve made for myself and in my business.
I just read Rework and really related to one of the chapters about quitting. The authors were saying that you don’t have to be a hero, and it’s okay to quit.
I studied ballet for 20 years of my life, got accepted into Alvin Ailey school in NYC, some schools in Philly and SF. I never made it big, but I was super okay with quitting when I did because I was pretty sick and needed to take care of myself.
But right now I feel pretty torn, on the one hand I know it’s okay to quit my biz venture, but on the other maybe this whole feeling like a failure thing is normal. In any case, thank you for your post today!!!
.-= Bethany´s last blog ..My Type A personality =-.
Marie, are you psychic? This comes on the heels of a major breakdown and self-pity-party this weekend, which, interestingly enough, came on the heels of getting a major project done, finally, that requires me to be much more “visible,” bringing up ALL my inner crappola about being good enough.
Thanks for nipping that one in the bud!
.-= Sukie Baxter´s last blog ..Weight Loss With HCG Injections: Is it really safe? =-.
Marie,
Great post! I just returned form a business seminar/retreat in San Diego with Max Simon (some of my friends were with you at Frank Kern’s b-day party) and I literally had a melt down the very last hour of this 3.5 day event! I never allow myself to this as it is usually me who creates the environment for others (at my own retreats) to do this and I am in the supportive role. Clearly, I needed this moment. It was all about feeling like a failure…and being coaxed and pushed into going back into the corp world and literally getting a J.O.B! I can;t even imagine this and I just had to allow myself to MELT DOWN. Thankfully I had a lot of support and a wonderful coach there to do an NLP process with me that broke me out of the funk! Ah, the mind is so powerful!
What is emerging for me is that failure is only feedback. I have not really failed, just have been going about things the wrong way and there is another way for me to be profoundly effective on a larger scale. But there was no room in my energy body for that WAY to come in because it has been filled with thoughts/etc that do not serve my highest good and highest contribution. I have always been accomplished in what I put my mind to. John Assaraff (one of my FAVORITES) spoke and I loved this one:
“For those who are interested, they will do what is EASY…for those who are committed, they will do what is necessary & appears difficult… at first.”
Blessings to all on your blog…Here’s to all of our Success (as we step right THROUGH our failures!!)
We are that powerful!
Ali
Priceless business advice for just about anything! Great job Marie!
Side note: one of my favorite nuggets from that weekend was Frank’s response to a question on how to write a sales later: “You sit down and fucking do it.”
WOW! Thanks for this Marie! “You sit down and fucking do it.”
I’m writing that statement down and posting it on the fridge, the bathroom mirror, and in my schedule book! AND I’m forwarding this to whoever I can think of.
Sabrina
Absolutely love Frank’s quote there.
He’s certainly good at telling it like it is! I’m going to take it to heart as my motto for the week and just go do what I know I need to do! 
Thanks Marie!
Jess
.-= Jess Webb´s last blog ..3 Local Online Marketing Strategies to get More Customers to Your Business =-.
Hey Marie, thank you for being real, and I mean, really real, not hype-real. There are many people who need to get the reality check that there will be setbacks, and things that don’t go as planned. I’ve often said that you learn more from your so-called failures than your so-called success. Thanks for an intriguing and refreshing post.
Just what I needed! I woke up this morning feeling like a total failure in the dating game and was in need of a wee bit of boost and here was your blog. Nice timiing Marie!
It’s nice to hear that other people feel like a “failure” sometimes too! I know it is what you do with those feelings that matter. As Frank said, “Just sit down and fucking do it!” Great line. What I always come back to when I am feeling like a failure is that failure is not an option…dust yourself off and pick yourself back up because if you stand your ground and fight failure, around the corner is your success.
.-= Kimberly´s last blog ..Never Underestimate the Power of a Hot Mini =-.
Thank you very much Marie for your post… Today was really not MY day and your post just showed me, that others feel like a failure sometimes too… but then you have to follow this advice “just to sit down and fucking do it!” Great quote from Frank
Marie, mahalo (thanks) for a great reminder that “failure” is just another lesson and that I need to just “do it.” It’s so easy to get wrapped around the thinking big and planning; sometimes we just need to sit ourselves down and write, make the calls, delegate the stuff, sign the contracts, create the content, or whatever else it takes to move our businesses forward.
In the spirit of aloha,
~Yvonne Kamamalulaniohailionaona Ohumukini Urness
.-= Yvonne Ohumukini Urness´s last blog ..Hula is a heartsong =-.
Oh Marie.
I laugh out loud every time I receive an email alert for your latest blog post ‘cuz your topics are always UNCANNILY (is that a real word?) relevant. Thanks for the reminder that “failure” ain’t a bad thang. Just a natural byproduct of putting your fine ass out there.
Love ya woman
xoxox
Catherine
.-= Catherine Collins´s last blog ..“If It Ain’t Broke..” Doesn’t Apply To Fashion =-.
just love this post and Frank’s advice on writing a sales letter – PERFECT! Awesome reminders that we are not alone in this. Failure/Success are the same thing on the opposite spectrum. xo
.-= Hillary´s last blog ..Hello world! =-.
EXACTLY the right message for me for this phase of my business life! Gracias.
There is no such thing as failure…only learning
Great article, Marie!
Perfectly timed
Thanks for your perspective and for sharing the tales of others. It really does come down to stepping outside yourself and saying, “Okay. Tried that. Didn’t work. Next.”
Here’s to failing upwards!
Hi Marie!
Thanks so much for a great post!
As a nurse-midwife, I love that you used the metaphor of birthing an idea. Indeed, it takes time to conceive, gestate and, finally, give birth to our ideas, goals and dreams.
As a life coach and entrepreneur, I love that you stress that there are no failures, only learning opportunities. And I *really* appreciate that you shared some of your own struggles, too!
So, many, many thanks and take wonderful care!
OK, I am so going to print that quote of Frank’s in Big…Bold…Red letters and plaster it around my office so I see it every time I start to procrastinate or the mind chatter starts doing its little happy dance in my head. Knowing that you feel like a failure at times is enough to remind me that failing is okay – it’s the not trying again that’s the ultimate failure.
xoxo
.-= Lori Latimer´s last blog ..At Long Last! =-.
Legendary success in any field requires a shit ton of stick-to-it-ness.
A lot of people went with Frank’s quote. This one eked out as the favorite by a percentage point or two. Today was my first day back at work after vacation and my very first interaction with a customer at 8:05am made me cry, not exactly the return I had hoped for. So this was timely. Thanks for it.
Alma
This could honestly not come at a better time. Just the other day I was moments away from curling into a ball and crying because a project I’d been working on was getting a slow start. But I pretty much thought exactly this: I could whine about it (which I did) and feel bad (which I still kind of do) but then I’d figure out ANOTHER way to go about making my project successful. I decided that whatever I was doing wasn’t working and I might as well stop wasting time doing it and take another route. So I did. And guess what? I ended up getting a new client through said route! Meaning our failures are put there as roadblocks because it’s that OTHER way that’s gonna be the success. Or at least that’s how I’m feeling today
.-= Marian Schembari´s last blog ..Please point me in the direction of successful blogs that make money that aren’t about making money…. PLEASE! =-.
Hey Marie!
Great topic
I’m gonna just keep on failing (and enjoy it while I’m at it!)
Missed your post! Glad you’re back.
Melody
.-= Melody´s last blog ..You Can’t Control Hurricanes or Other Emergencies, But You Can Be Prepared for Them =-.
Wow! Another great post Marie!
I really found this inspirational. Whenever I hear of how successful people went through their trials, tribulations and failures it makes my own trials that much easier to endure and is a great reminder that failure can and DOES often lead to success; so keep going for it.
I really needed this today.
Thanks again for sharing
-Alicia
Fail for the win! Nice Article Marie, I always tell my clients.. “the people you look upto are only a by product of many, many failed attempts…more than the stones you can count in your backyard”
Good stuff,
Cheers!
.-= Parker Lee´s last blog ..Greetings–from Amsterdam! =-.
Love the post Marie. It is so true about feeling like a failure right before it all comes together. It happens to me often.
Thanks for the reminder to keep at it and know that something great is just around the corner.
xoxo
Nicole
Love it! I’m going to write this line down- “…feeling like a failure often means you’re moments away from your biggest success.”
Being a writer makes the whole failure thing extremely scary. But this is so true. Without failure you’re certainly not reaching for success. So thank you for this!
Thanks sweetheart, this was something i really needed! Have a good day!
Marie, you fell from the sky like an angel with this post. I mean it.
Last night I was looking for your blog because I cleaned out my email and I though I had accidentally unsubscribed from your posts. When I found your blog I realized you had not sent anything in a while. Sigh of relief, I did not miss anything.
The thing is, I am in the middle of taking my business seriously, for the first time, in four years. I decided to stop looking for a job and concentrate on starting the business. I don’t know if I am doing it right or not. I know, I am doing it my way and that is all that matters to me right now. For some it might seem slow. To me, if I make one positive move towards my goal, I am going in the right direction.
Fear of failure is always there. The truth is, I failed myself for four years, because I now figure out I was not trying. And that to me, is the worse possible failure. Thanks you so much for keeping our spirits up while we go through the process.
Thanks for sharing these examples of failure. Sometimes my fear of failure is so great, I quit or don’t bother to try. Of those options, failure is actually the best! On my journey to success, I’d like to embrace the possibility of failure.
.-= Tanessa´s last blog ..Dream notes =-.
I sometimes peak at your blog and, I have to tell you, you just sang a lullaby to my soul.
I sat down at my computer today and I thought, “Boy, I’m still not feeling like my loving empowered self.” So I asked myself what it was I WAS feeling. The response?
“I feel like a failure.”
That shocked me because I don’t appear to have any huge failure looming over my head; so I think it is more that I am seeing myself so close to flying with my business. . .but haven’t YET. I haven’t yet seen that golden egg of success I can picture so clearly, and I’ve grown impatient for no reason other than the dwindling bank account. (ah, fear crops it’s ugly head again) I didn’t know it, but I needed a stick-to-itness speech.
And you gave me one.
I cannot tell you how much gratitude I feel right now. Days ago I was on my knees praying for guidance – I suddenly felt lost, thinking of moving, getting another job. . .
You were the answer to my prayer. I am SO close, and I desperately needed someone to say “keep going.”
Thank you. Thank you so much.
This article is very good and one of my favourite quotes is that nothing can take the place of persistance. Talent and intelligence cannot succed without persistence…so I totally agree to it . thanks Marie for such a great article.
Really makes you think about all those overnight successes (I’m looking at Kern) who worked for years in the background before actually succeeding. We never see (or at least we don’t remember) all the blood sweat and tears, just the grand moment when they finally stepped out into the spotlight.
Sometimes it makes you feel like you should be further along than you are but I think Frank Kern’s quote about writing a sales letter is the best advice for feeling like failure. Some days you may feel like giving up, on those days “You sit down and fucking do it.”
.-= Daniel Roach´s last blog ..What the Most HATED Cell Phone Company in America Can Teach You About Building Your Online Business =-.
Lucky girl! Love the post!
.-= Pam French´s last blog ..Believing IS Seeing =-.
Perfect timing Mrs. Forleo. Perfect timing.
.-= Andy Fogarty´s last blog ..My Kick Ass #FollowFriday Peeps For This Week =-.
The timing is perfect every day, lol!
This means that I must be onto something …
.-= Rhythmic´s last blog ..My New Song – A Memory =-.
Great post, it was so on time!!!
I agree totally. There is a saying that the darkest part of the day is just before the dawn. No matter what the obstacles are perseverance and tenacity will overcome them.
So true, Marie! I wish I had your blog post years back when my son’s wrestling team didn’t make the cut for state finals. I knew there was valuable learning in the experience for the team, and I tried to convey that. But I couldn’t find any resources about how failure is intrinsically linked to success. And now you’ve said it so well.
Look how many comments your post has generated…that’s success! I’m so happy for you!
I think we all need to clearly define what “success” looks like for ourselves. For some, it can be measured in dollars. For others, in personal satisfaction/fulfillment. For yet others, in terms of how they’ve impacted their community and left a legacy. Failures and embarrassments…they’re nothing…in the grand scheme of the individual course we’re each on.
.-= Judy Ransom´s last blog ..A Perfect Day =-.
Love, love love this Marie. You always hit the nail on the head and at just the right moment.
.-= Maria´s last blog ..Backlink Love From Twellow =-.
This was a great post!
One of my favorite quotes is: “When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.”
I remember being so scared to start my business & take the leap of faith because I was afraid to fail. When I told my best friends father this in asking for advice, he said, “Don’t be afraid to fail, ever! If you fail, at least you know you tried. You’ll never have to live with the regret of not knowing & asking yourself ‘what if?’.” That always stuck with me and this post is just another verification that you have to fail in order to succeed.
Thanks Marie! Glad to have you back posting new stuff again.
Oh God, I am green with envy that you got to meet the Frank Kern. He is my favorite IM. He is one (and you of course) are one of the few people whose newsletter i actually open, I watch all his videos and get his stuff.
I think one of these days I really must visit the USA.
.-= Claudia´s last blog ..5 Dating Mistakes That Women Make With Men =-.
Marie — I love this post. What a great string of wonderfully successful people from ALL different walks of life. And all with the same message: it’s about the journey thru the failures that leads to real success. So true! And holy $#@% 17 minutes , David Blaine? If he can hold his breathe that long…than well, anything is possible for the rest of us…
.-= Heather´s last blog ..The Real Truth about Your Body =-.
Failure? Hah! What the fuck is that? It (what ever you were doing) was a success right up until YOU DECIDED it was a failure!
No-thing is any-thing until YOU DECIDE what it is!
Here is an outstanding quotation that came into my awareness not long ago:
“It is not the unanswered questions that cause our problems. It is the unquestioned answers!”
“Sang a song to my soul” – Great line!
One thing I really dislike is failure but realise it’s what I have to experience in order to progress. Damn!
Laughed out loud about your assessment of why you and Frank Kern are friends–I miss you Marie! Great post as always!!
Great post, Marie! It’s especially hard, sometimes, for entrepreneurs and small biz owners when they feel like they’re going it alone. Even for myself, as one who’s been described as being “like a dog with a bone,” and never one to give up, it can be tough to always stay on top and believe that success is on the way. So we gotta hang in there and keep believing!
Great post! It’s so nice to know that everyone has ‘failures’ and hard times during their business adventures. It gives me motivation to know that it is ‘normal’ and ‘ok’ and that success might be just around the corner!
This is such a great post, Marie! What you have done here is normalize failure and made it something to actually strive for in some ways. (Thank god! LOL) How many quotes can we rattle off the top of our heads about failure… “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again”…
I always tell my clients that it is way better to try an idea and “fail” than to save the money, time and energy and wonder what would have happened if…
As you said, it is often during these so called “failures” that we realize we actually did learn and acquire something, it just wasn’t the money, fame or status that we thought we were going for. We just have to be looking for the positives in order to see it.
We all have that idea file with a million half-done projects, but for one reason or another, we keep creating. Some of those ideas turn into fabulous successes and others are what I call “practice”. We are practicing for the home run.
So, for the purposes of this post, I would like to propose that we turn the negative idea of “failure” into the positive meaning in “practice”. What do you think?
.-= Britt Michaelian´s last blog ..5 Ways to Grow Your Business, Work Less and Enjoy the Summer With Your Kids =-.
Ummmm…did you write this blog ESPECIALLY FOR ME? I am not sure why all these other people are commenting on MY BLOG POST–because you might at as well put at the top “Dear Amy” before you dove into the good stuff
THANK YOU for always putting into REAL, RAW, KICK-ASS perspective.
Much love,
A
I can totally relate. I do have successful moments, but there are times where I feel like the biggest failure that ever hit the web. This is especially true when I look back at my goals and I’m still not where I want to be.
I started putting some other projects into action after I read this article. I’m almost done with something I thought would have taken weeks. Thanks for the inspiration Marie!
.-= AJ´s last blog ..5 Weeks of Cognitive Walkthroughs =-.
Thank GOODNESS that feeling like a failure IS a good thing!
What I really APPRECIATE is the fact that Russell Simmons – whom I grew up listening to when he was with Run DMC – had a six year stretch in which he was moving toward SUCCESS.
Even if took that long for me, I am GRATEFUL that I am already a few years in.
I also LOVE the multi-passionate phrase! Far too often the mantra is FOCUS on one area that you are passionate and run with it.
Well, to take a step toward what I want to achieve in life, I respectfully have to disagree with the other experts and say that I am becoming a multi-passionate entrepreneur!
Thanks for being you!
.-= Eric´s last blog ..Does Showing Appreciation Really Help Social Networking Relationships =-.
Awesome post just when I needed to hear it. It is so true that we usually fail before we make it and you just can’t give up.
Laura
.-= Laura´s last blog ..Exercise 101 Aerobics Vs Anaerobic Which is better- =-.
Hi Marie,
Luv your writing style! Thanks for inspiring me to keep going no matter what obstacles (or failures) are in the way. Sounds like you are living a fun adventure in life
Great post, I really enjoyed the reading.
You are right never give up, this is key to success. Many people quit, because they thing they are not successful, but just like Bob Proctor said, they just dont finished the job.
Thanks for sharing.
Jiri Majkus
Internet Marketing Coach and Author
.-= Jiri Majkus´s last blog ..How To Increase Capture Page Opt In Rate With This Simple Method =-.
Hey Marie,
We all have those moments… failure? I see it as something that just didn’t work out at the time… next idea and move on.
Coach Freddie
.-= Coach Freddie´s last blog ..What Is Success =-.
Hey Marie,
Such a great post… and I got a good laugh
from Frank’s response to writing a sales letter:)
David Blain is an amazing human being. I’ve
seen so much of his stuff, as well as his TED
talk.
He is an example of pushing the human potential
MUCH further then we think is possible.
Thanks for sharing this inspiring post
.-= Eric Goldstein´s last blog ..Thank Someone Who Has Touched Your Life… =-.
Hi Marie,
Great post, great blog. Thanks for sharing this article.
wow, I found your article at the right time. When reading it, my feelings of being a failure I had throughout the day, vanished immediately. It’s not about whining together, but it’s good know that it’s absolutely normal to feel bad sometimes. So chances are I’m only a couple of moments away from a huge success. Universe, I’m open to receive
Take care
Oliver
.-= Oliver Tausend´s last blog ..The Fall of a Leader – from the Desk of my Friend and Mentor Michael Dlouhy =-.
Hi Marie,
I felt compelled to write on your blog. It is absolutely buzzing with energy and I love your style. You are also stunning, if only I was a guy lol. (That totally wasn’t supposed to sound creepy!!)
Anyway, I recently did a post on never giving up and how we can all reach our goals if we just continue even when the odds are stacked against us. Some people need to see it to believe it, others just believe it!
I am happy to be in the latter party and know beyond anything that I will be a success, I just gotta keep going.
You sure party with some cool guys, so glad I found you. Hope to connect with you sometime.
Beth
.-= Beth Hewitt´s last blog ..Day 6 and 7 Blog Content Challenge – Are you Ready for MarketMeTweet V2 =-.
Thanks for this much-needed reminder! Yes, a shit ton of stick-to-it-ness is the great formula for success and the occasional “failure” shouldn’t be allowed to get in the way.
Hi Marie
Loved this post and your style. Excellent info and very entertaining.
Sue
.-= Sue Price´s last blog ..Start Your Home Based Business like a Business =-.
hi marie
tnx a lot for ur blog
u r special
Hey Marie! Thanks for this! I feel like a failure often, and yet, I’ve been moving forward…does that make sense?
.-= Emily Giuffre´s last blog ..Katie Freiling’s the Unified Tribe- Make Social Media Work for You =-.
Hi Marie, I absolutely love this post! It completely resonated with my on so many counts. I truly believe that you need to stick with it even in the hardest times. You really need to believe in yourself and have such strong conviction and inner strength especially if others closest to you don’t believe in you.
Everything takes time and success doesn’t happen overnight. As long as you have a clear direction where you are headed, good work ethic, perseverance, positive mindset, and surround yourself with likeminded lpositive people then you can make your goals and successes come to fruition.
I too feel I have spent a ridiculous amount of money on workshops, seminars, etc. etc. etc. It all comes down to just staying focused and doing it….
Thanks again for sharing Marie!
Laura
Hi Marie, I found this article/posting to be very insightful and inspiring. It makes sense- there is a reason for our failures. It sure doesn’t seem like that when you feel down in the dumps, but when you think about it, failing is what makes a success so incredibly worth it! There is something so incredibly awesome about what you have to say. Whenever I finish reading an article of yours, or listen to your Live in the Moment Booty Camp, I feel like I can do absolutely anything.
Thanks again!
Hi, Marie!
Thank You so much for posting! After reading I feel like I can do absolutely anything.
I read this when you first posted it and don’t think I ever said Thank you!
So thank you for this great post and I think it’s a good reminder for anyone trying to achieve anything…whether it’s in their business or with their health & fitness. The stick-to-it mentality is the ONLY way to get where you want…
.-= Anne Samoilov´s last blog ..It’s Your Turn… =-.
My favorite Frank Kern quote: “You have to decide how far off your ass you’re willing to get.”
.-= Sonia Simone´s last blog ..The Force that Powers Persuasive Content And 3 Ways to Intensify It =-.
Marie, I am addicted to you! Really, you are one of the most inspiring women I´ve ever meet with.
Please go on with your great work!
Love <3
Eva Marie
Okay… Completely AWESOME Post Marie! I had nice laugh and truly loved it! It is so very true about how failing is truly bringing in success. I think any Entrepreneur who is successful knows this… and those who are not yet, soon will if they keep on going no matter what.
Failure is our learning curve and will allow us to achieve results. I personally had my share of failures the last 6 years but hey it was every ounce worth it because I would not be achieving the success I am now if it were not for my failures!
Great stuff… truly appreciated it!
.-= Jennifer May´s last blog ..Closing Prospects- How I Closed 61 Prospects In ONLY 60 Days =-.
Thank you Marie for posting this! The past nine months have been ‘ugly’ for me and when I clicked on this link -randomly- I received such peace and a clearer understanding of questions floating around in my brain cell.
Thank you for being willing to ‘vent’ out to others!
Take care!
“When you know you’re meant to birth an idea into existence, take it from Russell, David, Frank and yours truly: feeling like a failure often means you’re moments away from your biggest success.” OHHH this was rockstar and I loved it.
THANK you!!
Thanks Hun! That last sentence was exactly what I needed!
i am so glad i found this great blog post. i’ve been searching for similar information for days now.
Wow, thanks for this blog. A year old, but I found it randomly. Thanks for sharing. I just left a high profile job because my Spirit was being crushed by b.s and I wasnt growing. So I took a huge leap. Am terrified and fighting fear of being immense failure. And you have reminded me that this feeling is normal, that i’m human, and that i am connected to so many souls on this journey through life. Thanks.
(I now have the energy to forge ahead in a total new career)
Peace and Hairgrease
OM
Oh boy did I need to read this today! Thank you so much.
Signed,
feeling like a friggen failure today
Thank you so much for your words! I feel like such a failure today- now I know I can get back up and keep trying. You bring tears to my eyes – I am only human and I will not stop trying!
Appreciate it so much – Jaylyn
I am so grateful to have stumbled upon your blog! I actually heard Katie Freiling make a reference to how much you had helped her move past some of her own hang ups, and couldn’t get to your page fast enough
Feeling like a failure is something I struggle with. It is just a relief to know its a normal part of the process. It can be crippling… so this video made a huge difference for me. Thanks – I”ll be hanging around!
Dear Marie,
I have been subscribing to your newsletter for a while now before I actually became a mark. rep. I actually started selling mark for a grand total of two weeks!! lol!!. I am so grateful for your blog!! I cant say that my sales have been affected from them just yet…but they are soo helpful!! Part of my job is recruiting people as well as customers..and I have to say….that is rather daunting!! After reading your blog about Feeling Like a Failure? I now have a better understanding about growing my first business.
The managers of mark. even told me in a conference call that about 80% of girls who try this quit because of the first couple of failures…that leaves 80% of those sales for the taking!!! 
I know I am going to fail..but thats ok…because it happens to everybody who has succeeded. Who knows..maybe I’ll make it to the corporate offices someday!! Wish me luck everybody!! <3
This was completely uplifting. I’ve been struggling trying to figure out how to get out of my slump. I told a friend I felt like a failure and he thought I was pitying myself. I was just in that sort of mood. Now, I’m glad I felt that way. Now its time to get the juices flowing some how and stick to my big idea.
Thank you!
Thak you so much Marie. This have definitely inspire me and opened up my mind to a new way of thinking.
Why didn’t I find this years ago when it was first posted?? So glad I found it now. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!
I’d have to say one of the reasons youy and frank are friends is also one of the reasons I am here reading your stuff. It also reminded me that I need to get going right now and start writing and also updating some of my sites.
I’d have to say one of the reasons you and Frank are friends is also one of the reasons I am here reading your stuff. It also reminded me that I need to get going right now and start writing and also updating some of my sites.
omg, thank you
Thanks Marie. Very timely. After 6+ years in business I finally feel I’m on the brink of the sort of success I’ve been shooting for – not just treading water – but I’ve felt that before and ultimately haven’t reached my big goals…so I’ve been started to wonder if I should go for the ‘stable’ job and income. Even though I feel so close…So thanks for pulling me back from the brink – again! As soon as I cross the line I’m on the first plane over to share a glass of champers with you
A dear friend of mine who I met through B-School (Nicola) is coming over to meet you next month – so perhaps you can share a champers together on my behalf and send me some really good success vibes!
Congrats on the new site too. xx
Thank you so much Marie. I’m going to save this and keep coming back to it each time I fail to remember a) it’s not the end of the world and b) oh yeah – I’m actually human! lol
love this.
so true
and so needed to read it right now.
love from london …
These days, it´s been real good reading your stuff..!!! So I´ll keep at it…
Marie, I wish I could meet you! You are awesome and real – no BS. I’m so inspired by reading the article – Feel Like a Failure? Glad I found your website!
Cheers, Sharon
These kind of feeling can be consider probably a challenge towards good performance.
This was the right message at the right moment. Had a “horrible” day whereby the delivery service lost a package and had to refund a customer for her order. Taught me 2 lessons on how to avoid this moving forward but hitting the refund button was hard. I love what I do making and selling first communion dresses and veils but needed the morale booster to keep going. You rock Marie Forleo!!
For me, Failure is about a challenge to attain a huge success. Very inspiring!
I LOVE this article! I have felt like a failure and been knocked down so many times, yet I keep getting back up swinging. I have also spent a ridiculous amount of money on projects that never went anywhere. It’s just part of the process. The key is to learn the lesson, and keep moving forward. Thanks for sharing this!
THANK YOU MARIE. I have been putting myself out there over and over and over again and falling down, getting back up, falling down, getting back up. Most recently, I launched a group class and the first night did NOT go stellar-ly, so I’ve been feeling a bit of a failure all week and obsessing at how to make it AMAZING next time. So, I really needed to read these wise, honest and inspiring words tonight. Getting back up…
x
shannon
Thanks for the excellent post, Marie. It reminded me of what you said a couple of years back: What if you CAN’T make a mistake… assuming you are truly trying to help others. You may learn something, you may learn what doesn’t work or that there’s a better way. But you stay in the game and that is key.
Perfect title, Totally caught my attention Marie. I sometimes feel that the failures just add to a really awesome story to share with others and inspire them when they are struggling to succeed. It’s pretty rare that you hear a business person who is instantly successful and never failed, but we seem to forget that when struggling with our own business.
You rock
Jess
Thanks Marie for the great article!
To be honest I am at the lowest part of my life thinking about what a big failure I am almost every single day.
I have a good paying job as a manager
, The company even sponsored a master degree study for me. But My life is so boring and monotonous. I can’t do what I want to do. If not working then studying. I almost have no social life for almost 2 years because of that.
I’ve always wanted to have my own business, learn how to play piano, Raise a cat, have a girlfriend. But all just dreams and I am a big failure.
I need help desperately. I need some good advise
Amen and pass the “I want the freedom to feel okay with everything NOW, right NOW” tip! Now wasn’t this exactly what the doctor ordered? Oh yes, oh yes it is. This thing on “failure” was timely for me today. Feeling really crummy, I read it and remember seeing Russell and Kimora at a party in Los Angeles years ago. I remember thinking then… wow, this guys connected. Long story. But what I got from this was a jolt of, Oh yeah’s. Like oh yeah, you’ll get there you silly goose – you’re the Pit Bull with lockjaw that never gives up. So, just as you’ve said yourself, it’s gonna happen. Success is just moments away.
Thank you. Thank you for helping me stay “awake”. Thank you for helping me to stay ready and alert. I’m one day closer to it (happening) and boy, is that ever thrilling!
So grateful for you and the work that you do! You’ve entered my world 3x within one week so I take that as beautiful nudging. Looking forward to meeting soon!
I’m beyond grateful for this. I feel the change taking place. Thank You..
Thank you. I needed that.
Marie :
I am half way there and sometimes feel like a failure bacause I cannot pass the goal line, well your post made me feel better and put things into a better perspective right away, I dont know how or why I have found you on the web tonight, but I sure am glad. Keep Rockin Jersey Girl !!
Thomas Gillis
Thanks Marie! So true… so true. Thanks for your fantastic posts, vids and energy! LOVE what you are doing!!!
Brilliant as always – “You sit down and you fucking do it”. True for all cases!
I love this post. I felt like a complete failure recently. I was told though to stop comparing myself to me & to go & get therapy to help heal some of the pain/anger that was holding me back (relationship split & being forced out of my own business on account of it). It’s so reassuring to hear that this is normal & that it means you are taking action. I’m not afraid of failure – I just see it as a learning curve. However, what scares me is the fear of poverty as I have a household to maintain, kids, animals etc (on my own). i know I have to address this as it will hold me back & only attract it to me! Ooops! Thank you for sharing it with us. It spurs me on…. x
Hi Marie
Came across your stuff a week or so ago and was getting really tired and a little annoyed watching all those happy videos since it seemed everything I was doing was not coming together as perfectly as your S*** is so thanks for this it has gotten me out of bed ready to start again
Thank you Marie! Your blog is excellent. I look forward to your posts and am inspired daily.
Does this advice apply to relationships with people (both romantic and non-romantic) as well?
I needed this today!!!
As business owners I think we are all doing our best to make our customers happy but sometimes you make mistakes or things just dont work out the way you intended. The only thing you can do is learn as much as you can from the situation and move on.
You rock my friend. This is right where I am. My brand is called the Healthy Voice. I’m a life coach by trade but I’m shifting my business model into a movement and a way of life for people and all sorts of cool navigation tools for life. I’m psyched about it but I’ve been doing the other stuff for three years and thinking just what you wrote at the end. Thank you, thank you for turning down something I call my Unhealthy Voice so I could realize I’m about to shine (not like I’m not now but you know what I mean!). Stay awesome!
Reading this brought tears to my eyes. I’ve been doubting if I should keep making and selling my handmade jewelry because I’ve been doing this for 10 years and haven’t made nearly as much money as I’d like, esp. living in NYC. I seriously have been so wavering that I was thinking about what else can I do, but nothing brings me as much joy and I’m just not as passionate about anything else.
I’m so glad you wrote this article. I feel like I can keep failing forward…and its ok!
omg I really loved this post……people go all their life doing the same thing over and over again and get minimal results , once you take a leap of faith and venture into business they have SOMETHING DISCOURAGING TO SAY. I am currently going through this situation I invested into products i now will sell and people tell me am stupid but guess what I now I will get results.
You are so right! Going forward, taking risks, failing in the process, but then finding out what really works makes it all worth it. Sometimes you can’t feel it in the middle of failure you are on the brink of success, other times if feels so close for so long, then BAM – success!
Thanks for the advice, it’s just what I needed to hear. I recently launched my online boutique and its been a very slow process to get traffic to my site, which results in low sales. I’ve been feeling like a failure for investing money and time on my small business. But I have to stay positive and keep at it. Also get a much better grasp of internet marketing so I can get the results I want. My husband always says “if it were easy, than EVERYONE would be doing it”.
Thank you so much for posting Marie!! I’ve been juggling my biz with 2 small kids for about 5 years now and all the money I’ve made goes right back into it. So many times I’ve felt like a failure, but not enough to quit. I sometimes don’t even talk about it to my friends because I feel embarassed that it’s not succeeding and generating more money. You are so inspiring and I’m so glad to know I’m not alone!!
Marie i’m now in luv with you for simply opening my eyes up to the Summit Series alone!!!
Holy mother of godfathers that event looks awesome, Im based in London but ima make sure my limey booty is there next year
)
Peace
Zed
Thanks Marie I really needed to hear that. See you at the top.
Hey Marie,
How does it feel to get hundreds and hundreds of responses to your blog posts and videos on MarieTV? Don’t answer, I know it’s amazing and just reflects back to you that you’re truly living your purpose. It’s truly lovely to see that this post is from May/June 2010 and you speak about Russell Simmons inspiration and then a little more than a year later he’s a guest presenter at RHH Live, WHAT?!! Talk about some real manifestation. Thank you for all you do!
Keasha
Thank you so much for writing this Marie. It’s so helpful to hear perspectives like that from such successful people.
I tend to feel like a failure on slow days then a rockstar on others, so I’m glad to hear it’s normal.
Thank you again for shedding light on this feeling. Really needed it!
Tracy
This was the kick in the pants that I needed today.
I’m so happy I came across this post today! This week has been failure-filled and now I’m ready to pick myself up and get back out there.
Thank you so much for your candor! I truly needed to read this tonight. You’ve given me hope for the future!!
Love it. Especially the “just *$@#ing do it!”
A girlfriend suggested I check out your website and….”I Love You, Man!” You cut straight through the crap and give people the real deal. You’ve gotta be the coolest person on the web right now and and I’m your new FFL (Fan For Life). Thanks for the motivation.
Your timing is impeccable, Marie. Your words reminded me of other words, “if you are in your comfort zone, you’re in the wrong place.”
I mixed these words with your words and together they seem to have detonated a bomb up my ass. About time too. Ooh, yeah! Thanks Marie. X
Exactly!!!! Fire Away….. God Luck to You, me as well.
Great post Marie,
I appreciate the way you laid it out and slam dunked it at the end.
Darag
Marie
I have worked with over a 100 small business owners starting their business in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. This is very inspiring and I have shared it! Thank you
Its Aug 2012… I decided to sit my arse down and READ as much motivation I can! Wish the shit was sold in a bottle! I literally feel like my brain is on a machine which gives it life. I’m so lost and. Infused. I’ve wanted to be a entrepreneur since before I knew what it was. I’ve been designing, decorating, drawing, and creating things since 2nd grade. Art and creating lives in me! But I have NO IDEA how to LIVE OFF IT!!!! I’ve invested every dime at times into building my brand. Only to have a mistakes that cause me to completely Fail! I’m lost. And I lack direction. I hope by goin through your mailings I run into the answer! I’m seeking to succeed!!!!
Dear Marie.. I definitely feel like a failure at the moment. Although I’ve completed my graduate studies, I am still struggling to look for a job- read this- I am not doing much to apply for jobs- I know I need a kick in the a**.. Many things happened following the graduation, many emotions, a long, and long distance relationship struggled and ended, and maybe I am finally coming to terms with it and other stuff- which again I know should not be an excuse. There are people in worse situations than me. I have been learning to be more loving, kinder and much more gentle instead of being harsh with myself. I see myself now in a better place, better equip to face the challenges that life will throw at me..but perhaps I am not moving fast enough. Is that demanding too much of myself or I am just slacking… I am still afraid of my own dreams- not having the courage to say that I have those dreams and definitely not working towards the dreams. I also find myself so confused – as to what I want in life. Thank you for sharing great stuff Marie.. and I hope you will read and give any guidance.. Thanks Marie..
So what if you feel like a failure not just in your career but as a person, too? Like when you’re divorced before thirty and in debt and having to borrow money from your parents (!) and you’re criticized by others and you feel ugly and fat and frumpy… I mean sure, the advice is that you can turn your life around easily, right? Just with effort? But what if that’s the whole point… and you start feeling like you’re a failure just because you’re just not good enough?
YOU – ARE – SO – BRILLIANT
Perfect. The words, the timing, the immense amount of heart you put into your work, Marie. So needed to read this today. Off to sit down and just fuckin’ do it!
Dang I needed that….thank you Marie. Depression aint takin me out again…therefore, neither is failure!
wow i really love this! thanks for sharing!
Love your updates. They make me feel like I am not alone out here !
I have to say I’ve had this in my queue to read for awhile (along with a bunch of other wonderful content from you Marie!) and the name just hit me as a ‘must read’ tonight!
I’ve been really feeling pretty down about “all the work I’ve been doing” lately. Like many in my industry ~ handmade ~ it’s hard to shake that stigma learned from the “regular job” world that time (directly) = money. When you’re a solopreneur a lot of it is about investment. Investment not just of money in physical things, but of energy, effort, emotion, etc in many intangible things like hopes, dreams, and ideas. When you compare one actuality to the other you will always come up short because sometimes it’s just hard to say that an hour of marketing related to a sale or not (sure there are ways but even those are often estimates).
What I’ve learned from my “failures”. Choose your investments like you’d choose your allies. Do what you can to research and know what you’re getting into the possible risks and the most desirable outcome. Trust and do it anyway and accept that you can fall flat on your face or majorly kick ass. But no matter what, always learn something from the experience and in that way no failure is ever a real failure.
I feel a little lost-i’ve got so much to give and make women feel great with the style of clothing we do-before GFC we were buzzing & growing-suddenly come to a stagnant place-almost overnight-
waching the solar eclipse this morning felt like i’ve got a new begginning happening—
Like you there is so much locked inside me-need help-to unlock & bounce back
Indie
Love it! Thanks!
Hi Marie.
I really like what you write!
Wow! Thanks for sharing Marie, really needed this one today! Finally starting my company and I’ve been having the “what the heck am I doing?” moments. But then I remember that I’m doing this because it’s my passion in life and…
Because life is a great adventure!
Melissa
It’s good to know that failure often times precludes success. I’m at the bottom of the barrel right now with an idea I think is very good, but I have a lot of negative people around me who are trying to give me advice on something they’ve never experienced, or as far as I know, never even looked into.
I enjoy your pep talks. Some days you’re the only person who cares.
Thanks!
Brad
Perfect timing that I come across this now. Things are at their lowest, yet I’m so close to breaking through I can taste it.
I have to be real on how much time it takes to get the pieces in place to launch my first teleseries. Never having done it before, there are a lot of moving parts, but scheduling it for January. Like you say Marie, “it’s good enough.” You have to start sometime, so just start!
Happy Holidays!
Christia
Aw Marie, thank you for this! I really needed it today X
All this week, I’ve been filled with anxiety at yet another year coming to a close and my dreams still being…just dreams. I continue to long for success that feels like water slipping through my fingers. My nightstand is filled with too many books to count on self-help topics that include gratitude, law of attraction, intentions and the list goes on and on. When I think of the money and time invested in the “self-help” department, I want to cry because success appears so far away and so, I declared myself a failure again! But your article on, failure being a good thing, gives me strengh, a virtual pep talk. Intellectually I understand that failure is a part of life, but experiencing failure hurts and overcoming it can seem impossible. I am glad to be reminded that there is no super human that by passes failure on the road to successI Thank you
This article is oh-so-amazing! I felt energized. Many times I have felt like a failure but an article like this provides such inspiration and new insight. Thank you so much!
marie im following you for quite a while now and youre awesome. live what is part of my goal. getting paid for sharing all my knowledgle helping others. like a dream come true it seems. but im still struggling to find a way monetizing it esp online. . .
well concerning this topic here Marie:
hitting your head against the all again and again will never help. maybe the idea you have just doesnt attract enough people or customers who want it?
how do you know when to stop banging your head against the wall (ok fantastic metaphor i know) maybe the “outer world” tells you your inner visions of how you think it shall be just dont fit.
lets say for ex. you have this elearning system and you think its so revolutionary. every company needs that for tgeir emploees. but nodody
buysbuys it. not one. no school wants it eitger.
I love this Marie. Thank you for sharing this story. It truly helps me to just keep going and to just keep doing my thing.
Much love,
Michelle
Great reminder, if something is not working, change the strategy! I LOVE THAT! Putting yourself “out-there” is one of the hardest things to do. So worth it when it’s working, but hard when you “feel” it’s not. This has been the perfect “pick-me-up” for today. Thank you Marie…..
Amazing, amazing message. Definitely a pick me up during these moments where you feel like the world is caving in on all your idea and nothing seems to stick. Thank you, thank you, thank you! So grateful for this.
Thank you, Marie. I just started my own business about a year ago. There are days when I feel like I have no idea what I am doing. It is good to know that I am not alone.
I know you’re serious Marie, because this is the first post I’ve read at least that you cursed like 3 times.
This couldn’t come at a more appropriate time. I had one of the those low, woe is me days, when everything seemed too hard, tasks insurmountable and the amount I need to learn to make my business go from zero to infinity and beyond felt like – oh why don’t I just bury myself under a turtle shell.
What’s that famous Thomas Edison quote – ‘I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.’ Tenacity. Persistence and Not Giving Up. F**K! Shit! And my big curse word in front of my kids, Oh Fudge! It’s time for me to go to sleep and start a new day tomorrow.
OMG OMG OMG I feel like a failure EVERY single day! I have had a business since 1995, and since moving to Switzerland, have now had my ‘new’ business since 2008. I’m at the point of wanting to sell my company as I now have CHF40 in my biz account. So my reason for replying to this post? After reading this, my passion is still there – hell why else would I stay working in the arts after all this time? I goddamn LOVE the artists I work for – they are my LOVE CHILDREN!
But my concept that I am about to embark on, and freak out about every day, after reading this post, has made me realise, that instead of its likelihood of failing, could it possibly succeed? If not, I must say, your posts make me laugh and feel positive. I love this woman. Just fucking do it – sums me up completely! I just fucking haven’t! Yet…..
Couldn’t have said it better myself! This was very uplifting to me as I am in a time of “failure” right now! Thanks for the encouraging words!
Thanks Marie! I just love gurrrl! I always seem to read something of yours or watch a Marie TV episode at exactly the right moment in my life. I have program I intend to create for my health coaching business and I have literally been paralyzed by fear of failing at it. I have a deadline to get it done and just haven’t done it. This was exactly what I needed to read. So what if it bombs? I’ll do it better next time. I am just going to fucking do it!
Thank you sooo much, Marie! This has made my day x You go girl!
I really believe in what my project is about. I’m past the stinkin-thinkin of others. I would simply like to find the right person to partner with in the technology piece. I too, have been down the road of paying people for a lot of lip service and no results. I am ready to get closure on giving away our car wash and ice cream shop combo and excited too!
This is a really great, inspiring article. I struggle with the illusion of perfection and consequently the massive fear of failure in a really bad way. I often struggle with the worry that other people will think I’ve got nothing of value to give the world. These crazy thoughts (and they are crazy) sometimes stop me in my tracks. And thankfully, sometimes don’t. Each time they don’t I’m grateful for being alive and consciously able to live through the challenges and the joys of each day. I make a point of remembering that in a short little prayer I say each morning. Nothing fancy, just a thank you to God, to the universe and to all of the powers that have given me the gift of presence.
Thanks for sharing Marie, and thanks for your honesty to admit that even you have moments of fear and failure! It takes guts to be vulnerable. Your words are always so encouraging.
Marie! You have the most extreme spunk of anyone in this business! I must say that the swearing is not my cup of tea and you are so brilliant that you speaking is powerful and that puts a curve for me personally! I will listen in and “Chew on the meat and spit out the bones!” Bravo!
Thanks for this information about failing and honesty about your feelings. I am always finding self doubt and anxiety in my daily thoughts and want to supplant them with positive motivation!! you’re the ticket!
Marie, I’ve only just joined your site so am jumping on the band wagon a few years later… and, I love this post as it is so true!
I have two beliefs that have worked for me, which are: 1) “failure” is simply a word to describe what doesn’t work for me, it doesn’t make me a failure and, 2) If I do not fail then I can’t understand success.
I’ve tried and failed at many things, but I had to, in order to discover what I am successful at. Sometimes it takes courage, fortitude and a whole lot of will to get to where you want to be, but by god when you get there you feel like a new person.
• Nipsy Russel used to say,
• “Be humble, and don’t stumble.”
•
• But Russel, Dave, and Frank say,
• “Stumble, Fumble, but Keep on
• Keeping on…until You Rumble!
Wow! Great advise, I recently started watching you on YouTube. I can’t get enough of your information. I will continue to keep watching and reading. It’s helped me a lot at this point in my life, I’ve been burned out lately… But any how, you’ve made me shake it off and picked my self up.
i love to read this thanks for sharing this with us marie so inspiring,you know i got a lot of doubt and i was afraid of filure so i was also scared to try some things i really wanted to do.but by reading this i really cant keep my self to smile …i fell like it raise my confedence to try what i really want to be come..thanks!!!
I love this, I think a lot of times I feel really fearful of failure, that I talk myself out of an idea. But it really ticks me off when in a couple of years down the line I see the idea completed. Its really a pust to just go out there and do it, even the best have failed at some point. Thank you marie!!!
I’m always feeling like I’m a failure on the inside because I’m just not where I want to be in my life.
HELP! I’ve sent this through all B-School areas and I am still freaking out – What do you do when you have reached out to partner with someone, but was then informed that they have more resources and they may take your idea and run with it and make it better. I just got YogaFit to schedule a Level 1 Training and a YogaFit for Warriors class to help soldiers with PTSD. It’s perfect because I live in a city with one of the largest Army bases in the country. I thought emailing organizations on base would be a great way to get the word out, but one in particular takes ideas and runs with them. My business partner said that we’d be training our competitors and that would take business away from us because we aren’t making money off of these training’s. How can I make this work for me if I feel like I’ve already royally messed up? I am freaking out! I thought I was doing a good thing by starting to spread the word and reaching out to the community that needs it the most and it seems now we won’t profit from it at all. I want to cry.I feel like my thoughts of abundance, there’s enough for everyone, thinking the best of people and all my good intentions backfire on me. I feel sick to my stomach. Plus my studio isn’t packed with people, sometimes I’m lucky if I get one person in class. I have no idea what i’m doing wrong.
This was amazing! Exactly what I needed to hear.
Your awesome!
“Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.” – George S. Patton
Hi Marie,
I am a new fan of yours and I spent the last week watching all of your videos. I was thinking of closing down my start-up and you made me change my mind. Thank you for all the help you give us. You are great. Love.
I love this post!
And I love this quote(able):
“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm”. Said by the super successful Sir Winston Churchill
Thank you Marie. New to your website and videos and am finding you so refreshing and wonderful. This particular message gives me food for thought on a very down day. Thank you.
This is so true. In our effort to be “perfect”, sometimes we don’t risk failure. But, we learn so much from every experience and then grow to become even better.
I regularly get asked by students in our trainings, what is the difference between Coaches who are successful and those who are not? My answer is Failure! The Successful Coaches are the ones who are willing to Fail repeatedly, that is how we learn, grow, and improve! The Coaches who are unsuccessful often insist that if they can’t do it perfectly then they won’t do it. It is a total paradox trap. I can’t do it well, so I won’t do it at all, so I never get the chance to do it well, and round and round they go! Perfection and Procrastination are best friends!
Hi Marie, I’m so grateful I just read your post on this because it’s exactly what I needed to hear! It’s so refreshing to be reminded that we all fail at things along the way and that it’s not the end of the world but rather an important part of the journey!
Thanks so much, xx.
Thank you for statement “feeling like a failure often means you’re moments away from your biggest success.” It brought tears to my eyes. I needed this today. I can’t believe I stumbled onto you. Just reading on your web site has given me hope. Sign me up I’m on board! Thank you Joan
Thanks for the inspiration. I really needed that today. I am working on my 2nd phase of B-school today and needed a picker upper. I often wonder if I am just spinning my wheels. It feels good to know that people that have attained success went through the exact same feelings and still do. I really am not crazy.
thankyou.. I needed this today.
I like your site very much and your content. Keep going!!!
It turns out I am very human then! That is a very motivational post for most people I think, failure comes hard to most of us unless you view it as one step closer to success.
I may be late to the game but lady… I like your style!!!!!
Thanks for all you share Marie
Good stuff!
Friggn love you!! I am addicted to u and your advice!! We are in sync just wish I could brain storm with you for 5 minutes!!! You the best!!! You ignite my fire in my belly!!! Thank you!!
It’s awesome Marie! Just a second ago I was feeling depressed because of my business failures, but this post has motivated me.
Also today I watched your several videos on youtube, there’s nothing much to say, you’re just amazing!
GAH!!! I think you wrote this post just for me. A HUGE thank you.
Love you, Marie!
Wow I could have read this at a more spot on time! Totally feeling it!
Thanks fore turning my depression to motivation!
i give up I loose my home and I am looking for job nobody hires\
Everyithing is going wrond
Thanks for this article it’s an oldie but a goodie and still so relevant! Funny how things always come just at the right time. So why do we worry so much?? “we are human!”
YOU ROCK Marie.