How do you handle startup failure?

In my experience, failure 😨 is not a unified concept that precludes anger, guilt or depression. In addition, the 50 shades of failure are closely intertwined with the concepts of Time & Money. The real question startups need to ask themselves and answer is, “Do we know how to fail fast and fail cheaply?” Once they know how to do this, they are more than ready to embrace the 50 nuances of failure and start playing a winning game. I am happy to offer trainings to startups who are interested. Get in touch.

I would first reflect on what went wrong, learning from mistakes to grow personally and professionally. Open communication with the team and stakeholders is crucial, being transparent about the reasons behind the failure. Taking care of my well-being and seeking support from friends and mentors is important during this tough time. Networking and asking for feedback can open up new opportunities, and I would consider exploring different career paths or entrepreneurial ventures. Managing finances and planning for the future would be a priority, while continuous learning and staying resilient are key for future success. Celebrating the achievements, no matter how small, helps maintain a positive outlook.

It sucks. You feel like you let yourself down, your friends and family, investors etc. There is no easy way to deal with it unless you know you tried everything and it just didnt work out. It's really hard when your reality and life is your startup - all you ever did/talked about for the last few years. Take time off to decompress, write about it and talk about it with others. You're 110% not alone and I know so many founders who take comfort in talking with other founders.

I dislike this machine-created list. Number one: CUT LOSSES, review how you can support your employees in finding new jobs. Organize sale of assets, pay debts & return funds to investors. IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT, take time off. If you cannot afford it, find a temporary job to pay your bills. Then slowly ease into understanding what could you have done differently. Sometimes, you could not have predicted certain circumstances (who could have predicted covid, for example?). Be kind to yourself, and have some early, small indulgences... a walk around the block, on the beach, etc. You don't want to move on from the past, you want to learn from it, and sometimes it takes a while to separate firm failure from personal failures.

Handling startup failure is like accepting that sometimes puzzles have missing pieces—it's about facing the situation with honesty. Acknowledge the reality that not all startups succeed, much like realizing some puzzles can't be completed. Understand that it's a part of the entrepreneurial journey, similar to knowing that not every attempt leads to a perfect solution. Take a moment to reflect on what went wrong, like examining a puzzle to see where pieces are missing. It's a bit like admitting defeat in a game; Accepting the reality of failure allows you to learn, reset, and prepare for the next exciting challenge, just like starting a new puzzle with a fresh perspective.

Life has always been about winning and losing and you just have to accept it and get on with life ... however if you've suffered a "loss" it's also extremely positive to review what might have caused it and learn from it. However "a loss" is not always about what you've done 'wrong' because it can be simply a matter of circumstances. And I'm working through that situation now. I started and self-funded an Online Education business in the US in 2012 and a couple of years later decided to relocate to New Zealand foolishly thinking that modern connectivity would allow me to develop the business from here. NZ still remains 15 years behind the rest of the world & VC and investment funding is non-existent here ... it's been a nightmare.

🌟 Throughout my career, I’ve seen many talented entrepreneurs lose their way when they encounter failure. 🤔 But for me, failure is not a dead-end; it’s invaluable data that informs future strategy. 💪 A strong mindset transforms setbacks into learning opportunities, allowing for reassessment and pivoting. 🔄 An iterative approach turns these lessons into actionable steps that drive future success. 🎯 By combining a resilient mindset with a willingness to iterate, we stay aligned with our long-term goals, ensuring impactful and sustainable growth.

I totally resonate this! I'm a founder of a 7 month old company, and I had reached out to a point where I was about to completely give up. I don't know what struck me in, I took a chance, and now, no looking back!

Something failed? Congrats, you have new motivation to make things better than they ever were before. Look at the data, read books, talk to experts, but don't ever waste a good punch to the face.

I have been a part of a successful startup (exit via acquisition after 16 years) and a failed startup that lasted just 18 months. First and foremost, you have to know what you're getting into, acknowledging that despite best efforts most startups will not be successful. There are many reasons startups fail, regardless of how airtight the business plan or efforts of the team. At the end of the day, you have to take the lessons and move on. But as with any job, you also have to enjoy the journey. The joy I had working for 18 months in a startup which ultimately failed, far outshine the negative feelings I have about its failure.

At this juncture, it became crucial for me to assess whether the factors that played a role in the failure could be channeled positively into a different project. I strongly dislike dwelling on hindsight and engaging in the "what if I had done that" game. My preference leans towards a pragmatic approach – identifying the contributing factors, scrutinizing their relevance to the failure, and determining if the manner in which these factors were employed might have led to the unfavorable outcome. Moreover, it's essential to explore the potential for leveraging these factors in a constructive manner for future endeavors rather than fixating solely on past missteps.

I find accepting failure to be a skill. Those who succeed, have multiple failures under their belt. What makes them different from the others who don't make it in the long run, is the skill of accepting failure and then learning from it, dispassionately. Step back, let go of the first knee jerk reactions to failure, and study what went wrong and - as importantly- what went right. Ask others. Solicit feedback aggressively. Especially from your friends, colleagues and team. They'll know best. One has to crowdsource feedback, there is really no alternative. Lastly, knowing what went wrong takes the sting out of failure. There is nothing worse than going round and round in your own head wishing for a better outcome.

The main cause of startup failure is making a product that nobody wants. Why does it happen so often? Most Founders are afraid to talk to prospective customers and hear negative feedback, get “rejected”. They have a prevention-focused mindset dominated by a fear of failure. I’ve researched this phenomenon extensively and wrote about it on my blog.

Its Sunday, which means I'm doing a critical review of my week and asking the following questions in service of analysis and my responses to help: List 3 great things that happened to me last week -Played tourist in my own town (NYC) -Upgraded to a business class seat -Listened to a nourishing keynote speaker Friday and getting ideas on how I can craft my own List the main struggle People on the fence. I surrender. 2 things I learned about myself Acting from a scarcity mindset I may be addicted to worrying thoughts 2 things I learned about others -Women are often the least kind to one another -How you do anything is how you do everything One decision this week I could make this week better Direct message on Linkedin

Recognize flaws. Establish new approaches. Silence your inner critic, ask for constructive feedback. Appreciate what you learned. Regroup, move forward, apply improved standards. Take another gamble on a new dream. R.E.S.T.A.R.T

Failure is the best teacher. How else will we learn where our strengths lie as well as where the market’s interest lies? I remember the time I started a custom-made fabric business based on the bridal market trend I noticed in Ghana a few years ago. Long story short, it failed. But it was through the failure that I realized how important thorough market research was. I also realized that I did not communicate the value of my offering properly and that I was selling in the wrong “place”. The business shouldn’t have been primarily based online as brides-to-be tend to need physical interaction with several samples at a time. So many other lessons were learnt but without that failure I wouldn’t have found success pursuing other ventures.

Imbibe learnings that can improve chances going forward is probably the most important step here. There can be innumerable reasons for why something did not work, some controllable and a number of other uncontrollable ones. Being able to understand what could have been done better is important, but even more important would be to consciously think about the learnings and improve chances of success with another venture or even if one decides to go back and work for someone else.

Na minha visão, o segundo passo para lidar com a falha de uma startup é analisar as causas e aprender com os erros. Acredito que a autoanálise crítica não só do processo em que a empresa estava sendo tocada, mas também a análise interna, para que consiga enxergar erros pessoais, para ir direto aos pontos de melhorias, para saber o que fazer para dar certo.

An example I read from a VC principal and hit me hard is “don’t fall in love with your startup”. I imagine my startup is a mini ecosystem that I have to build, nurture, and raise. There’s no one form or size or method suits them all. There are various factors that contribute to the development of the ecosystem and they are dynamic. Today it will need more product development, tomorrow it will need more attention on processes, next week we need to focus more on its impact to the customer or their consumers, and so on. Implementing the iteration process is key in coping with the output. Just remember, negative results are still a result. It gives you room to navigate your next step.

Learning from your mistakes is absolutely critical. However, why something doesn't succeed isn't always clear, and in the heat of the moment it is difficult to take an objective view. Far easier to give yourself some space, let the dust settle, and then really think about what you can learn from the whole experience. Just avoid the blame game. If you are the leader, the buck stops with you. So take a good look in the mirror. That said don't beat yourself up - realise you did the best you could, and vow to learn from your mistakes.

Facing startup failure is tough, but it's essential to handle it constructively. First, analyze the reasons behind the failure—was it market fit, execution, or other factors? Take responsibility for your choices and seek lessons from the experience. Maintain a positive mindset. Connect with mentors, advisors, and peers to gain guidance and emotional support. Evaluate your options. Consider pivoting your idea or exploring new avenues using the knowledge you've gained. Prudent financial planning is crucial. Cut unnecessary costs and stabilize your finances to weather the aftermath. Transparent communication is key. Be open with stakeholders about the situation; this honesty could lead to potential partnerships or collaborations.

I used to take failing really hard. Blame it on the Asian tiger parenting, where failure wasn't an option. I am 11 years into my business, and when I fail at something, I ask the Dr. Ben Hardy question: How did this happen FOR ME, instead of TO ME. It forces me to distill the lessons. Each night, as part of my daily journaling practice, I do write down the things I am proud of myself for. Today, I am proud of myself for checking into my flight and being responsible.

Step three is all about recognizing what you did right during your startup journey. Even though it didn't work out, you still achieved many things. Maybe you built a great product, got customers, or learned a lot. Don't forget to celebrate these wins and pat yourself on the back for having the courage to try. Those experiences and skills you gained will be super useful for your next adventure.

Make a list of every single accomplishment and milestone. Don’t leave anything out. This list will help you to pat yourself on your back and provide the confidence you need to keep moving. You can do this. You will do this. Don’t give up. Ever.

Failure is always the key to success, if taken positively. Always do the assessment for the decisions taken. Take the credit of success and same way take the count on failure. This will make you more mentally stronger to take bold decision. Analyse the product and look for the flow of GTM, to see the loopholes and the problematic areas to work upon. See, for the individual contribution and check if the failure is due to any such parts. Most of the time, founders forget that they are also human beings and they do need time off and they cannot complete the work alone. The work need to be distributed among the team members, and they need to be very clear about their working. Let's celebrate the small success to make it bigger day by day.

Remember, every venture, much like every product we created, has its highlights. Maybe it's the team we built, the innovation we sparked, or the customers we impacted. We should celebrate these moments – they are our building blocks for future endeavors.

Winston Churchill once said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” This sentiment is especially pertinent when handling startup failure. Recognizing and celebrating the journey’s achievements, despite its end, is crucial. The process of creating a product, building a team, acquiring customers, or solving problems are significant milestones. These accomplishments should not be overshadowed by the eventual outcome of the startup.

Sempre tire algo de bom em momentos de fracassos. Quando digo algo de bom, são experiências, aprendizados, conhecimento e principalmente novas ações para que fracassos como o mesmo não aconteçam novamente.

Celebrating achievements, no matter how big or small, is important for morale and motivation. Whether it's reaching a milestone, completing a project, or overcoming a challenge, take the time to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishment. Celebrating achievements not only boosts morale but also fosters a positive and supportive work culture, encouraging continued success and collaboration.

This notion is rooted in an ancient concept, specifically one found in the Bible, which advocates for gratitude towards one's current blessings. Success is intricately intertwined with failure, and even more notably, growth fundamentally arises from failures. Drawing from my personal journey, our business encountered the transformative years of the pandemic, compelling us to reshape our business model and develop a software solution that propelled us forward. Thus, it's imperative to embrace every challenge, knowing that each struggle contributes to eventual fulfillment and achievement.

Delivered effectively, feedback represents an invaluable learning opportunity for entrepreneurs. It's akin to receiving free advice – a clear, unfiltered perspective on what aspects of your services or products resonate with customers and what aspects do not. Within our own company, for instance, client feedback revealed a lack of clarity around utilizing our consultancy services. As a result, we adapted our consultancy process to incorporate post-project navigation and guidance services. This offers clients ongoing support in practically applying the deliverables, reflecting our commitment to enhancing customer experience.

An example I Have seen is a company in Blockchain space. A Defi company aiming to build a decentralised exchange raised 2.5 Mn used over a whastapp message (thanks to Bull Market). But soon over the next one year, realised that along with Tech Liquidity is the biggest challenge. And due to lack of experience in BD, they crashed. However the founder was resilient do he and his team (lean culture helped him to avoid firing) came back to their advisors for feedback and realised that their strength is building scalable tech stack. Eventually after 2 years, built a B2B solution that's scaling up really fast now. So analyse, take feedback and most importantly accept and celebrate the failure just like you do with success.

A busca de feedback de pessoas envolvidas na operação e construção da empresa é bem valiosa, pois tira a sua visão enviesada e apaixonada de todo o processo criado dentro da startup para trazer ensinamentos e pensamentos que talvez não tenham passado em sua mente.

When your startup faces a setback, seeking feedback and support is like talking to friends when a game gets tough—it's about getting advice and encouragement. Talk to people who can give you helpful suggestions, just like asking friends for tips on how to play better. Listen to what they have to say about your business or personal growth, similar to hearing your friends' experiences. It's a bit like getting together for a team talk; seeking feedback and support helps you rethink, learn from others, and gather strength for the next try in the entrepreneurial game. Remember, even if things didn't go as planned, there are people who are there to cheer you on for the next round.

Failure always teaches us the method of success. Once you’ve conducted a root cause analysis, you already understand what led to the failure of your idea. Now, by seeking feedback from customers, employees, and others, you equip yourself to avoid repeating the same assumptions or mistakes when you start again. Feedback provides a fresh perspective, and when processed effectively, it prepares you for future success.

El principal feedback que actualmente existe y hace 14 años estaba en ciernes es el que entrega Instagram y sus herramientas de negocio, lo cual permite dar un atisbo y orientación de lo que ofrecen los competidores, lo que está vigente en distintos segmentos del mercado, precios de mercado y canales de comercialización. Proveedores y tendencias y tecnologías actuales. Conversar con colegas, en mi caso en la ciudad de Concepción específicamente con la dueña de La Carlota , Jimena Dunn Barros en San Pedro de la Paz y sus relatos de emprendimiento . Participar en cluster desarrollado por MBA UC en Santiago de Chile 🇨🇱. Participar en cowork Casa W en eventos como Fuck Up 🆙 y continuar mi terapia de apoyo Psquiatrico y Arteterapia De Gres.

We set a crucial rule when launching our startup - disagreements should always be constructive, not personal. With our diverse backgrounds, this wasn't just about avoiding clashes, but also about combining our strengths. Every debate provided us with an opportunity to refine our ideas. Our diverse experiences enhanced our ability to solve problems. This approach fostered respect and understanding. The rule became our guide to promote growth through constructive collaboration.

One big lesson, I've learnt and I always love learning is - someone's perspective. Now, this SOMEONE isn't ANYONE. It's a notable/trusted/experienced person that will tell you what you'd learn probably after a span of time. They'll tell the market conditions or what wouldn't work. Understanding their advice and making sense out of it is very important, I feel. At times, you can save a lot of resources by that one small feedback that you might have missed or weren't looking at in the first place. So yeah, keep learning and growing! Cheers 🥂

Engaging with others after a failure can provide new perspectives and critical feedback. Leveraging the experience and support of those around you not only aids in emotional recovery but also offers practical advice to refine your approach. Building a strong support network fosters resilience and innovation, turning setbacks into opportunities for growth and learning.

Exploring new opportunities after startup failure is like discovering a whole new game level—it's about finding fresh challenges and exciting possibilities. Look around for different paths or ideas, much like exploring new areas in a game. Consider what you've learned from the failed venture as valuable experience, similar to gaining skills in a game that help you in the next levels. It's a bit like unlocking new features; exploring new opportunities allows you to adapt, grow, and find a game strategy that suits your strengths, just like navigating through the entrepreneurial landscape with renewed vigor and knowledge. Remember, in the game of startups, each opportunity is a chance for a comeback and a shot at a higher score.

1st step: start a 'morning routine' and make sure to include some form of physical exercise. If you already have one then start an 'evening routine' with a non-negotiable writing part, mostly free-flow writing style, it works, believe me. Tips: - follow your routine, at least five days a week - make sure you hit 75% of routine tasks 2nd step: think of 'three key skills' that you as a co-founder or as a core team member developed only because you were part of this business. 3rd step: too much positivity can be toxic, especially after failure. Now, it's time to take care of your finances along with answering this one big question: How can I leverage the experience of leading a startup in my next professional or entrepreneurial endeavor?

Many believe we become what we think about. Keep engineering the vision of what it is you genuinely want. Desire is the starting point. Napoleon Hill said "Man's only limitation, within reason, lies in his development and use of his imagination." You have six intellectual factors that, when understood, developed and harnessed, will give you everything you need to create what it is you genuinely want. Every health human being is blessed with a marvellous mind. It's the most powerful asset anyone has. It came to us free, but it didn't come with an operators manual. If you want to mitigate risk of not hitting the mark in the future, invest in yourself. Develop your understanding the power of your mind and the truth of what you're capable of.

Each business failure presents a fresh opportunity, a chance to channel the acquired insights into a new venture while ensuring that past errors are not repeated. In my experience, this setback facilitated the realization that substantial growth doesn't necessarily hinge on a large workforce; instead, it hinges on assembling a meticulously skilled team and devising a user-friendly software solution. For us, this amalgamation of factors proved pivotal, leading to a strategic pivot.

You too can handle startup failures like a seasoned entrepreneur: 1. Accept, take responsibility, learn, don't give up. 2. Seek feedback, take time, pivot, remember your "why" and start again. Remember, Failure is a learning opportunity.

In my experience, failure is not the end of the road; it's a chance to discover new paths and possibilities. You can use your skills, experience, and network to pivot towards a different idea, join another startup, or explore job opportunities in your industry. Moreover, take this time to delve into your passions and goals to find what truly fulfills you. I truly believe that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to moving on from failure – it's about finding the right path for you

To explore new opportunities you have to embrace the pivot. Startup failure, while disheartening, is your chance to pivot towards greater success. Instead of dwelling on what didn't work, ask yourself: 'What have I learned, and where can I apply these lessons?' Go deep. Embrace change, explore new opportunities, and reinvent yourself. Just as a ship adjusts its course to reach its destination, use your skills, experiences, and connections as your compass. Pivot towards a new venture, join forces with a different startup, or even pursue a career in a related field. This is your moment to navigate uncharted waters and discover your true potential. Remember, failure isn't fatal; it's the first step toward a brighter, more resilient future.

O grande passo já foi dado, que é reconhecer a importância de explorar novas oportunidades e se reinventar após o fracasso de uma startup. Isso mostra que você tem resiliência, coragem e vontade de aprender. Ative a sua rede de contatos, pois você não está sozinho nessa jornada; faça cursos e tente aprender mais sobre seus fracassos e, principalmente, foque no desenvolvimento de novas habilidades e estratégias, buscando novas oportunidades.

Wisdom is the knowledge gained from past experiences. So put failure in your pocket and don't make the same mistake twice. Is it really failure or just your path to greatness.

Failure is a new beginning, not the end. It teaches us to re-evaluate our abilities and opens doors to unexpected paths and opportunities. Every challenge sharpens our talents and prepares us for future success.

Having failed in my first 4 businesses before existing my next 3 successfully, I know first hand just how important it is to have the right mindset. For me dealing with failure all comes down to having a big enough reason why. The impact I want to make and the legacy I want to build is so grand that I don't actually think anything can get in my way. I would have to be incapacitated in order to quit. In saying all that I do believe that it's about failing forward intelligently, learning from every experience and understanding that the game we call business is like a roller coaster. They'll be ups and downs along the way, the key is to focus on the journey and the person you're becoming in the process more than the destination itself.

Here's the thing about Entrepreneurship - don't do unless you have the total and complete mindset, belief, and gut-punching drive that demands you HAVE to. The modern notion of Entrepreneurship today is wrong. Most people are talking about 'Enterprising skills, beliefs, and mindsets'. Because, my friends and colleagues who are true entrepreneurs have bet the entire farm and their lives on a single idea - there was ZERO other options. So it was make it work their way, or go down trying. That to me is the single defining mindset that determines the difference between a true 'entrepreneur' or another who actually wants to be 'enterprising'. And for my 20p, the mindset need for today's workers is to be enterprising - not entrepreneurs.

Startups fail due to multiple reasons, internal or external. However, if you had put your best into the previous venture, you have actually not failed: you have learnt. And what you learnt, the technical knowledge and the network you gained, all this is you new "networth", that you can leverage on in a new endeavour. And so you should! Because now, you're worth much more than before, so your probability of success has increased. I wish you success with your next startup!

In some places around the world with strong startup ecosystems (Silicon Valley for instance) failing is expected and encouraged. Statistically, your startup will fail. You are gaining experience, will handle future mistakes better and after experiencing failure have a better chance at succeeding. If you’re an entrepreneur, you’re never out of it. You may be resetting, recharging, or pivoting. Find the new opportunity.

Certainly, in entrepreneurship, understanding that failure can be a stepping stone to success is crucial for fostering a resilient and growth-oriented mindset. 1. Continuous Learning and Adaptation: Embracing failure as a learning opportunity encourages entrepreneurs to remain open to new insights and skills. 2. Embracing Risk for Innovation: Seeing failure as a catalyst for innovation motivates entrepreneurs to take calculated risks and explore novel solutions. 3. Perseverance and Resilience: Entrepreneurs who view failure as a temporary setback demonstrate resilience and tenacity. Leveraging failure as motivation, they persist through challenges, maintaining focus on long-term goals.

Starting a business from scratch is hard. There are times when things won’t go as planned, and you’ll feel everything is going downhill. Many stalwarts like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Walt Disney, Gary V, etc. failed in their first venture, started again, and the rest is history. 3 ways to deal with this: - Accept the truth. This is a stepping stone towards a bigger achievement ahead. - Connect the dots - There’s always a lesson to be learned. - Celebrate what you learned - Failure is not the end; it’s just a redirection to something else. So celebrate for the times that made you grow. And the next time you start your journey, use this as your guiding compass to navigate through the uncertain terrain of entrepreneurship.

Any failure is tough to deal with. Seeing your blood, sweat & tears not culminating into what you imagined, is truly painful. But this is the time that marks you as someone who is capable of taking this rejection & making peace with it. Remember, smooth sails do not make a good captain. You worked hard. You put in your 100%. You lost. It is ok. It is not the end of the world. Look at what you gained & pick yourself up. It is necessary to fall to learn how to not repeat the same mistakes & grow in the correct manner. Your start-up might’ve ended, but your passion to get it right has not.

Resilience and Perseverance - crucial for surviving, succeeding and thriving as a startup. I would also add a bit of luck to the mix. Raising astronomical funds does not guarantee success if you do not have a passionate team if your core team experiences high attrition or if the market is not ready. You need a team that stays focused on the big picture and remains committed to achieving your long-term goals, even when things don't go as planned in the short term. Luck plays a role because, considering factors beyond our control, sometimes just being in the right place at the right time can open all the doors to success.

That would be nice, but I'm not there yet. My network is not yet so close-knit that I have a resilient entrepreneur as a sparring partner. I am in the process of building such a mindset network. I am very grateful for tips in this regard.

I have co-founded or been the CTO of at least 5 startups. And yes, some have failed. My formula for handling startup failure is quite simple. Did I do my part to make it successful? Did my co-founders do their part? Was it the right time? Was it the right idea we were executing on? Did any outside influences fight against our success? After adding it all up, if I feel good about the answers, I just move on to the next. It is always better to use your energy building something you think will be great than to waste it languishing over something that wasn't.

When you're on the entrepreneurial road, it's totally normal to think about throwing in the towel sometimes, and trust me, I've been there. I've had my fair share of failed ventures, and each one knocked me down a bit. But here's the thing: every time I failed, I learned something. It's super important to remember that hitting a rough patch and feeling like quitting is just part of the game. It's these tough moments that really test your grit and teach you the most. Sharing these personal ups and downs can be super helpful and relatable for others who are riding the same rollercoaster. Bottom line, every mess-up is actually a step forward, teaching you something crucial for the next big win.

I think it’s important to detach and not tie your worth and identity to the failure, or success for that matter. A startup is not who you are, but rather something you do, amongst other things that you might be excellent at. It’s a growing, learning, and mindset changing experience that sometimes comes to an end after it has served its purpose. And then you’re on to the next challenge.

Early in my career, I had decided to go on the Entrepreneur journey. But lack of mentorship and lack of right team led to the downfall of what was a dream. I had to sit down and acknowledge the shortcomings and then find a way on how to improve on those so as to succeed again. It's all about the mindset & the long term goal. Obviously shattered and heartbroken, but picked myself up, got a job to learn the details and here I am back to the Founder journey.

"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” H. Jackson Brown Jr. (P.S. I Love You) In other words: of course you might fail. But this is not a reason for you not to try!

Why 99% of the startups fail in the first year itself! Weak product or services Bad team or management Lack of self-belief or responsibility No customer or client No investors and funding to grow etc

In case you somehow got to learn / know that your startup failed, first, check if those are in line with your goals and ambitions. If they are not, don't even think that you failed, they failed to understand your mission or vision or you are being bullied. Just don't care in such situations. Just make sure to prove them wrong. People with opinions vs people with skills... just keep building. Everyone can't understand you, that's OK. If they could and they have those resources, they could have been your competitor instead of your supporter. Just keep going. It doesn't matter whether you are on a path to success or failure, it's just your force towards ability to build. Just... Go. Build it.

Set your own standards of success and failure...stay flexible and willing to change adapt and innovate. I started my entrepreneurial work in 2006 ...17 years later I have only touched the tip of the iceberg in terms of reaching the vision I had in mind...but we are still at it. When a dream is so large that it would take an entire country to achieve it...your role in it is never over. Expand your vision so that short term road bumps don't bring you down. Put your best foot forward each day and when the road takes a turn be quick to follow it.

This article is based on the belief that failure actually exists. Over the years what I've come to learn is that this is only true if you quit in pursuit of your goal. If you don't quit and you keep going until you've achieved your outcome then it's impossible to actually fail. It took me quite a number of years to learn this and adopt it in both business and my personal life. But I can tell you it's made a huge difference to my performance and overall results. Beyond this I find I'm generally much happier and enjoying the process more so then the destination. So my advice to anyone reading this is to set meaningful and realistic goals and never quite in your quest to attain them.