When I was working on Click Here to Order, I had a problem. How could I describe all of the accomplishments achieved by the people I was interviewing? Although each of the marketers I spoke to was usually best known for creating one unique model, which they were now sharing with others, almost all of them had hugely rich pasts as well.
They'd all completed a number of different projects, many of which had also brought them vast sums of money.
When I look back on my own career, it's no different.
I might get calls from reporters now asking me about social media, but I've also had huge success with AdSense. I've sold a website to Yahoo! for a seven-figure sum, created a top-selling iPhone app and continue to develop and sell software programs.
My company never has less than half a dozen ideas in development at any one time.
Of course, there have been plenty of failures too. That's unavoidable. Some of them contributed to my successes. They taught me valuable lessons about marketing, development or market needs. Others I wish I'd never thought of and I still wonder why no one stopped me at the time.
But I don't lose sleep over any of those failures. I tried, I failed, I moved on.
There's often a tendency among new entrepreneurs to believe that the idea that they have now is the only idea they'll ever have. They think that if this venture doesn't make them a millionaire by the end of the year, they'll be working a J.O.B. forever.
That's not the way it works. Any idea that you're working on now is just one venture that you will create among many. Sure, if it works, you'll make a ton of cash. You'll have the kind of passive income that lets you lie on the beach in Acapulco for the rest of your days, if you want.
But few entrepreneurs want to do that. Most want to get their automated revenue systems in place then get to work on their next plan.
Don't get hung up on the need to succeed.
Don't get hung up on the fear of failure.
Get hung up on the need to take action. If the plan doesn't work, just move on quickly to the next big idea - because for entrepreneurs, there's always another big idea.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
June 2, 2009 10:39 AM
Great advice as usual Joel. I remember this point from your Elevate 2008 Seminar. If you are going to fail, fail fast!
June 2, 2009 10:55 AM
Joel,
Excellent advice again as usual. But i was wondering, you said you have a dozen or so ideas that you are working on, is there any one or two things that determine the priority list of what gets worked on first? Because i imagine they are all "brilliant" ideas, just like mine!
Thank you,
Jamie Crager
www.twitter.com/CragerInc
www.cragerinc.com
June 2, 2009 12:05 PM
The whole twist will be that somebody doesn't act at all because he believes that there will always be a bigger idea, so why spend time on the current idea now? Lol.
Well, some people may just be as silly.
June 2, 2009 12:10 PM
thank you very motivational.we all need to hear encouraging and uplifting once in a while to keep us moving forward no matter what the outcome.
June 2, 2009 01:39 PM
Joel-
Well stated and balanced approach. If failure is inevitable on the journey to success, then a healthy approach to our response in failure is going to help get us through.
That said, we have to know when to quit, right? Failing fast is important, otherwise it could be disaster by year end, and no Acapulco!
Regards,
Travis
June 2, 2009 03:35 PM
Good post... everyone fails several times at first, and will likely fail in the future. You cannot let those failures keep you down and taunt at you. Though it's much easier said than done, learn from your mistakes and failures. Work hard to continue and improve your successes!
June 3, 2009 05:32 PM
A failure is a loss only if you do not learn from it. I think I'll tweet that... @StartUpNowUS
June 4, 2009 02:10 AM
No-no-no !! 1000 times no !
First of all, is not fair.
While you see the bottle half full and you speak about it as half full, one may see it half empty.
While the empty half is always above the filled half and while one may think he deserve the part from the top ... => failure even before start.
Is not fair !
Anyway ...
Why you see it half full and I don't ?
Because your name start with J (Joell) and mine with L (looser) ?
NO ! Life sucks. Bleah ...
Second, this is unbelievable wrong approach.
Why ?
Well, once one don't do anything, is impossible to make mistakes.
And if one makes no mistakes, must be promoted ... salary raise, better house and so on.
So, why bother doing something and taking the risk to "trial and error = failure and loose" ? Better do nothing and get promotions :-)
Oh, I see, you think this will inevitable going to be a life failure.
Agree. But will be only ONE fail, not tons and tons ...
Third and last:
quote"
Others I wish I'd never thought of and I still wonder why no one stopped me at the time.
"end quote
Hmm ... Do you honestly expected someone to stop you while they see you going DOWN ?
With few exceptions (usually a man have more fingers than always-reliable friends), is human nature to smile and watch in silence when one mistaking and / or start falling .. Nobody's happier when another one become richer / bigger - except if have a "3F" interest (is family, friend or fan).
Valentin
June 12, 2009 04:56 AM
Wow Valentine, you gave me something to think about =]
June 26, 2009 10:25 PM
Failing is a big part of learning, though. You can't always learn the right way without failing at first, and I wouldn't be where I am or where I'll go in the future without failing first. Nice post Joel, big fan!
July 9, 2009 12:42 AM
There is a quote - Success is simple. Do what's right, the right way, at the right time.
Till now, I did many things "not right" and not in the right times and still struggling to find a success path.
the lesson was learned.
At list I feel like I can continue to fail till the big idea will come.