• Home
  • Blog
  • Books
  • Store
    • E-books
  • Up Close
    • About me
    • Testimonials
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Merce Cardus

Sign up to get the last articles delivered to your email box.

Failing in Business Isn’t Even Failing — It’s Gaining Life Experience

in Entrepreneurship & Business on 14/04/16

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
0 Shares

Nelson Mandela on impossibles

Taking risks in business means that sometimes you will fail, says AOL cofounder Steve Case, author of The Third Wave: An entrepreneur’s vision of the future.

Experimentation is the essence of progress, whether it’s in the sciences or in business, and most major social achievements are a result of a big ideas realized through countless small experiments. In America’s quest to land a man on the moon, for example, committing small mistakes along the way was the only path toward success.

Case gives another example: Babe Ruth. Yes, the Great Bambino is remembered for being the home run king, but he was also the strikeout king. “If you’re swinging for the fences,” says Case, “you’re going to strike out. But you have to keep at it and if you keep at it you sometimes will have those homeruns. Sometimes you’ll win those games.” Thus failing in business isn’t really failing at all, but rather gaining life experience, so you’ll do better the next time around.

In this video clip, Case discusses some of the roadblocks he encountered as co-founder of AOL, which at one point brought the Internet to half of all Americans going online.

I think failing fast is important. Experimentation is important. And the great breakthroughs in society usually have required multiple tries, multiple experiments, multiple pivots. And that’s the whole idea of getting in there, getting some experience and then taking a step back and figuring out how you move forward.

The most classic case of this was the whole idea that John F. Kennedy started about getting somebody in to space, landing somebody on the moon. When he said that he called for the country to rally around that, it almost was impossible for people to imagine that happening. The technology just wasn’t there. But people tried things, many times failed. This they thought would work, it didn’t work. They kept adjusting, kept at it. And eventually they were successful in landing somebody on the moon and bringing them back home safely.

So that’s a perfect example of many different experiments. People see this in science. They know that in order to have a breakthrough in science you have to try a lot of things. Most things will fail. And I remind people that Babe Ruth was the home run king. But he also was the strike out king. If you’re swinging for the fences you’re going to strike out. But you have to keep at it and if you keep at it you sometimes will have those homeruns. Sometimes you’ll win those games.

So I think it requires a mindset around experimentation and taking risks knowing that many things you try won’t work. But that doesn’t mean you’re a failure. That just means that idea failed and what can you learn from that idea and then move forward.

Sometimes you do have to call it quits. So sometimes things are just not working. But my own experience is sometimes just when you think that finally something breaks through and the sky opens up and there’s new possibilities. We came very close to not making it with AOL. There was many times where it didn’t quite work. We thought something would work. It didn’t. We had to lay people off. We were about to run out of money. We had a partnership that fell apart. There were some near death experiences on that road.

And I used to joke that AOL was a ten year in the making overnight success. By the time it finally got successful everybody said you came out of nowhere. No we didn’t. We were at it for a decade. And thankfully we didn’t give up. We didn’t quit. We stuck with it.

So sometimes you have to just say it’s not working. You have to walk away. But my experience is if you really believed in that idea early, you really were passionate about that idea, you still think it could get traction, for some reason it just hasn’t broken through, take a fresh look at what partnerships you can establish to help accelerate the growth. What new pos

licy perhaps could be put in place to accelerate the new growth. Don’t give up on it. There’s a great Nelson Mandela quote: “It always seems impossible until it happens.”

Related Reading:

Complement The Third Wave: An entrepreneur’s vision of the future with Take the right risks.

 

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
0 Shares

Get the Best Reads on Writing, Screenwriting, Self-Publishing & Better Living

« Listening With Your Body, Your Voice, And Your Mind
LinkFest ~ Best Reads on Writing, Screenwriting & Self-Publishing: Be An Expert »

Hi, I’m Merce!

Welcome to my site, the place where writers & publishers can find useful information, insights, resources & inspiration for writing, self-publishing & living a better ... View Post

Merce Cardus

Get Started with my Most Popular Posts

The Magic that Leads us to Live a Charmed Life

Letting go

The Dao of Letting Go (and Not Trying)

You Are Not Doing What Makes You Happy and What You Can Do About It

Getting your stuff done

5 Reasons Why You Are Not Getting Your Stuff Done

A Skill You Can Cultivate: The Art Of Not Panicking

Search By Category

  • Category Index

mercecardus

Mer
Bosco verticale ↕️ vs Bosco orizzontale ↔️ Bosco verticale ↕️ vs Bosco orizzontale ↔️ 

#merinmilano #milano #italy #milan #italia #lombardia #design #madeinitaly #milanocity #igersmilano #iorestoacasa #architecture #italianstyle #italiainunoscatto #italia_inunoscatto #italia_landscape #italian_city #italian_trips #italia_super_pics #italiabella #italiani #igersitalia #italia_da_scoprire #italianart #streetart #boscoverticale
Esatto. 👌 #merinmilano #milano #italy #milan # Esatto. 👌

#merinmilano #milano #italy #milan #italia #lombardia #design #madeinitaly #milanocity #igersmilano #iorestoacasa #architecture #italianstyle #italiainunoscatto #italia_inunoscatto #italia_landscape #italian_city #italian_trips #italia_super_pics #italiabella #italiani #igersitalia #italia_da_scoprire #italianart #streetart #viaggio
Oggi solo io e te. Dating the city! 🤗 #merinmi Oggi solo io e te.
Dating the city! 🤗

#merinmilano #milano #italy #milan #italia #lombardia #design #madeinitaly #milanocity #igersmilano #iorestoacasa #architecture #italianstyle #italiainunoscatto #italia_inunoscatto #italia_landscape #italian_city #italian_trips #italia_super_pics #italiabella #italiani #igersitalia #italia_da_scoprire #italianart #streetart #friends #butfirstcoffee
So… This is IT! 😃 Right, @saminzecity ? #mer So… This is IT! 😃
Right, @saminzecity ?

#merinmilano #milano #italy #milan #italia #lombardia #design #madeinitaly #milanocity #igersmilano #iorestoacasa #architecture #italianstyle #italiainunoscatto #italia_inunoscatto #italia_landscape #italian_city #italian_trips #italia_super_pics #italiabella #italiani #igersitalia #italia_da_scoprire #italianart #streetart #friends #butfirstcoffee
Doubt is resistance; Faith is surrender. 🙏 #me Doubt is resistance;
Faith is surrender. 🙏

#merinbarcelona #barcelona #HolaBarcelona #catalunya #catalunyaexperience #barcelonagram #loves_barcelona #total_barcelona #raconsde_catalunya #ok_catalunya #ig_barcelona #barcelona_world #ig_catalonia #elmeupetit_pais #descobreixcatalunya #barcelonaexperience #barcelona_turisme #barcelonalife #barcelonalovers #architecture #architecturephotography #architecturelovers #nature #naturephotography #naturelovers
Embrace progress ⚙️ #merinbarcelona #barcelon Embrace progress ⚙️

#merinbarcelona #barcelona #HolaBarcelona #catalunya #catalunyaexperience #barcelonagram #loves_barcelona #total_barcelona #raconsde_catalunya #ok_catalunya #ig_barcelona #barcelona_world #ig_catalonia #elmeupetit_pais #descobreixcatalunya #barcelonaexperience #barcelona_turisme #barcelonalife #barcelonalovers #architecture #architecturephotography #architecturelovers #nature #naturephotography #naturelovers #gaudiarchitecture #sagradafamília
You can’t win if you don’t play. But the quest You can’t win if you don’t play. But the question isn’t, what do you enjoy?
The question is, what price are you willing to pay for?
.
Happy weekend! ❤️

#merinbarcelona #barcelona #HolaBarcelona #catalunya #catalunyaexperience #barcelonagram #loves_barcelona #total_barcelona #raconsde_catalunya #ok_catalunya #ig_barcelona #barcelona_world #ig_catalonia #elmeupetit_pais #descobreixcatalunya #barcelonaexperience #barcelona_turisme #barcelonalife #barcelonalovers #architecture #architecturephotography #architecturelovers #nature #naturephotography #naturelovers
The Universe is an infinite playground of magical The Universe is an infinite playground of magical possibilities.
👉The Force is with You. 

#merinbarcelona #barcelona #HolaBarcelona #catalunya #catalunyaexperience #barcelonagram #loves_barcelona #total_barcelona #raconsde_catalunya #ok_catalunya #ig_barcelona #barcelona_world #ig_catalonia #elmeupetit_pais #descobreixcatalunya #barcelonaexperience #barcelona_turisme #barcelonalife #barcelonalovers #architecture #architecturephotography #architecturelovers #nature #naturephotography #naturelovers
The audacity to start believing in the not-yet see The audacity to start believing in the not-yet seen.—

#merinbarcelona #barcelona #HolaBarcelona #catalunya #catalunyaexperience #barcelonagram #loves_barcelona #total_barcelona #raconsde_catalunya #ok_catalunya #ig_barcelona #barcelona_world #ig_catalonia #elmeupetit_pais #descobreixcatalunya #barcelonaexperience #barcelona_turisme #barcelonalife #barcelonalovers #architecture #architecturephotography #architecturelovers #nature #naturephotography #naturelovers
La Sagrada Família with @lego ❤️ #merinbarce La Sagrada Família with @lego ❤️

#merinbarcelona #barcelona #HolaBarcelona #catalunya #catalunyaexperience #barcelonagram #loves_barcelona #total_barcelona #raconsde_catalunya #ok_catalunya #ig_barcelona #barcelona_world #ig_catalonia #elmeupetit_pais #descobreixcatalunya #barcelonaexperience #barcelona_turisme #barcelonalife #barcelonalovers #architecture #architecturephotography #architecturelovers #nature #naturephotography #naturelovers  #lasagradafamilia #lego
Togetherness #merinbarcelona #barcelona #HolaBar Togetherness 

#merinbarcelona #barcelona #HolaBarcelona #catalunya #catalunyaexperience #barcelonagram #loves_barcelona #total_barcelona #raconsde_catalunya #ok_catalunya #ig_barcelona #barcelona_world #ig_catalonia #elmeupetit_pais #descobreixcatalunya #barcelonaexperience #barcelona_turisme #barcelonalife #barcelonalovers #architecture #architecturephotography #architecturelovers #nature #naturephotography #naturelovers #togetherness
Feliç Diada de Sant Jordi! 🌹📚 . Ps. A new b Feliç Diada de Sant Jordi! 🌹📚
.
Ps. A new book is coming up! 😉😃🙋‍♀️

#merinbarcelona #barcelona #HolaBarcelona #catalunya #catalunyaexperience #barcelonagram #loves_barcelona #total_barcelona #raconsde_catalunya #ok_catalunya #ig_barcelona #barcelona_world #ig_catalonia #elmeupetit_pais #descobreixcatalunya #barcelonaexperience #barcelona_turisme #barcelonalife #barcelonalovers #architecture #architecturephotography #architecturelovers #nature #naturephotography #naturelovers  #santjordi2022 #feliçdiadadesantjordi #booklovers
No matter how long your journey appears to be, the No matter how long your journey appears to be, there’s never more than this: one step, one breath, one moment — Now. 
—Eckhart Tolle 
.
. 
.
. 
#merintortosa #tortosa #terresdelebre #igersesbre #natu #awesome_earthpix #natgeoyourshot #natureonly #natgeotravel #nature_of_our_world #ig_nature_naturally #roamtheplanet #landscape_capture #paisajesnaturales #calm #naturephotography #landscapes #landscape_photography #pixel_ig #landscape_hunter #landscape_lovers #landscapecaptures #landscapestyles_gf #getlost #skyporn #explorer #sunsetlovers #createexplore #exploretocreate #architecturelovers
A mirror to remind you who you are. . . . . #mer A mirror to remind you who you are.
.
. 
.
. 
#merintortosa #tortosa #terresdelebre #igersesbre #natu #awesome_earthpix #natgeoyourshot #natureonly #natgeotravel #nature_of_our_world #ig_nature_naturally #roamtheplanet #landscape_capture #paisajesnaturales #calm #naturephotography #landscapes #landscape_photography #pixel_ig #landscape_hunter #landscape_lovers #landscapecaptures #landscapestyles_gf #getlost #skyporn #explorer #sunsetlovers #createexplore #exploretocreate #architecturelovers
Relax as it is. . . . . #merintortosa #tortosa # Relax as it is.
.
. 
.
. 
#merintortosa #tortosa #terresdelebre #igersesbre #natu #awesome_earthpix #natgeoyourshot #natureonly #natgeotravel #nature_of_our_world #ig_nature_naturally #roamtheplanet #landscape_capture #paisajesnaturales #calm #naturephotography #landscapes #landscape_photography #pixel_ig #landscape_hunter #landscape_lovers #landscapecaptures #landscapestyles_gf #getlost #skyporn #explorer #sunsetlovers #createexplore #exploretocreate #architecturelovers
Into the wild. . . . . #merintortosa #tortosa #t Into the wild.
.
. 
.
. 
#merintortosa #tortosa #terresdelebre #igersesbre #natu #awesome_earthpix #natgeoyourshot #natureonly #natgeotravel #nature_of_our_world #ig_nature_naturally #roamtheplanet #landscape_capture #paisajesnaturales #calm #naturephotography #landscapes #landscape_photography #pixel_ig #landscape_hunter #landscape_lovers #landscapecaptures #landscapestyles_gf #getlost #skyporn #explorer #sunsetlovers #createexplore #exploretocreate #architecturelovers
Mini-Vatican. . . . . #merintortosa #tortosa #te Mini-Vatican.
.
. 
.
. 
#merintortosa #tortosa #terresdelebre #igersesbre #natu #awesome_earthpix #natgeoyourshot #natureonly #natgeotravel #nature_of_our_world #ig_nature_naturally #roamtheplanet #landscape_capture #paisajesnaturales #calm #naturephotography #landscapes #landscape_photography #pixel_ig #landscape_hunter #landscape_lovers #landscapecaptures #landscapestyles_gf #getlost #skyporn #explorer #blue #createexplore #exploretocreate #architecturelovers
Un libro con un titolo così bello si compra, e ba Un libro con un titolo così bello si compra, e basta. 🤓🌊
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 
.
. .
.
. .
#merinlampolla #lampolla #terresdelebre #igersesbre #natu #awesome_earthpix #natgeoyourshot #natureonly #natgeotravel #nature_of_our_world #ig_nature_naturally #roamtheplanet #landscape_capture #paisajesnaturales #calm #naturephotography #landscapes #landscape_photography #pixel_ig #landscape_hunter #landscape_lovers #landscapecaptures #landscapestyles_gf #getlost #skyporn #explorer #worldshotz #sea #exploretocreate #familytime
Sister Sistaaa ❤️ Let me tell you. We were hav Sister Sistaaa ❤️
Let me tell you.
We were having lunch…when suddenly…{swipe 👀}
Well, you know what they say, right?
De Madrid al cielo. 🚀😂
.
.
.
.
.

#merinmadrid #madrid #citylifemadrid #madridlovers #madridmadrid #madridcity #madridgram #igersmadrid #madridmola #madridseduce #madridlife #madridencanta #madrid_best_photos #pasion_por_madrid #total_madrid #madridmemata #madridstreetart #madridmemola #madridstreetlife #madridstyle #visitmadrid #madridneoyorkino #architecture #architecturelovers #sistersister #havingfun
When you ask for a Table for one…😄🥩 #meri When you ask for a Table for one…😄🥩

#merinmadrid #madrid #citylifemadrid #madridlovers #madridmadrid #madridcity #madridgram #igersmadrid #madridmola #madridseduce #madridlife #madridencanta #madrid_best_photos #pasion_por_madrid #total_madrid #madridmemata #madridstreetart #madridmemola #madridstreetlife #madridstyle #visitmadrid #madridneoyorkino #architecture #architecturelovers #meatlovers #tableforone
Load more... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 · Merce Cardus

  • Category Index
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy