Why You’re Afraid of It, and Why It’s the Only Way Forward

Failure.

It’s a word we’ve all been conditioned to fear, but if you want to grow, you need to get comfortable with it. The reality is that failure isn’t something to avoid—it’s the only way forward. It’s not just a lesson you learn—it’s the actual vehicle for transformation.

Years ago, when I was part of an M&A team in Florida, we were in the process of rolling up 17 small operators into a larger environmental services firm. It was a huge project, and on paper, it all looked great. We had the numbers, the plans, and the strategy laid out. But when we started implementing, we ran into unforeseen challenges. Some of the operators resisted the changes, others weren’t as profitable as we’d thought, and we missed key details that ended up costing us a lot of time and money.

It felt like a failure. And in a way, it was. But here’s the thing: if I hadn’t gone through that experience, I never would have learned the most valuable lesson in business—that sometimes, the plan isn’t enough. You have to be adaptable, you have to be willing to pivot, and most importantly, you have to be okay with failing.

Failure is the catalyst for growth.

Here’s why:

•  Failure teaches you what success can’t. When you fail, you’re forced to examine what went wrong. You learn things about yourself, your process, and your business that you could never learn from success alone.
•  Failure builds resilience. Every time you fail, you have two choices: give up or get back up. The more you choose to get back up, the more resilient you become.
•  Failure forces innovation. When something doesn’t work, you’re forced to think differently, to innovate, and to find new ways of doing things. Some of the greatest breakthroughs come from the ashes of failure.

If you’re afraid of failure, you’re holding yourself back. Embrace it. Lean into it. Let it teach you, shape you, and propel you forward.

Because here’s the truth: the only way to truly grow is to fail—and fail forward. 

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