Let’s face it: we all want success. Who doesn’t? We’re told from an early age that we have to work hard, follow the rules, and always hit the mark. But here’s the dirty little secret no one talks about: failure can be your best friend. Yes, you read that right. Failure, the thing we spend so much energy avoiding, might just be the thing that unlocks your most incredible career opportunities.
For women especially, the idea of failure is loaded. It’s not just about falling short; it’s about judgment, perception, and expectations. We’re expected to be perfect, on top of things, and well-polished—at work and in our personal lives. So when failure strikes, it can feel like we’ve failed on a much bigger scale. But what if we could flip the script? What if failure didn’t mean we were broken or incapable, but instead, it was a necessary stepping stone?
The Power of Experimentation: A New Kind of Success
Imagine this: You’re in a meeting, trying to pitch an idea. The idea is a little wild, maybe unconventional, but you throw it out there anyway. The room falls silent. You think you’ve bombed. You’ve failed. But here’s the thing: that moment of discomfort? It’s actually gold.
When we experiment—whether it’s with new ways of approaching our work, new projects, or new ideas—we’re constantly learning. And with every misstep, we refine our approach. We learn to pivot, adapt, and improve. It’s not about “getting it right” every time; it’s about learning, evolving, and pushing forward.
“Failure is not the opposite of success; it is part of the process.”
This idea is particularly powerful for women in careers where we’re often trying to prove ourselves. We may not always get the immediate validation we want, but experimentation allows us to take risks and test the waters without the fear of judgment that usually comes with straight-up failure. When you embrace the idea that failure is simply a part of the process, your whole perspective on success changes.
Toxic Perfectionism: The Silent Career Killer
Perfectionism—especially among women—is a career killer. When we’re caught in the trap of thinking everything needs to be perfect, we stunt our growth. Why? Because perfectionism keeps us stuck in analysis paralysis. It makes us second-guess every decision, hesitate at every opportunity, and doubt ourselves at every turn.
I remember a time early in my career when I spent hours perfecting a presentation. I thought if it wasn’t flawless, I’d be judged. I spent so much time tweaking and adjusting that I missed out on other chances to prepare, like anticipating questions or thinking about the bigger picture. When the moment came, the presentation was fine—just fine—but it wasn’t the knockout I’d imagined. And worse, I felt like I’d wasted all that time on something that didn’t matter as much as I thought.
The lesson here? Perfection is overrated. Taking risks and experimenting—while it might result in some bumps—builds confidence, teaches adaptability, and helps you find innovative solutions. And let’s be honest, those last-minute decisions and imperfect solutions are often the ones that make you stand out in a team or boardroom.
The Beauty of Bouncing Back: Resilience at Its Core
Women are resilient by nature, but sometimes we forget how to show ourselves that resilience. When failure happens, we often feel ashamed, as if it’s something we need to hide. But the real power of failure lies in how we bounce back. That’s where the magic happens.
Think about your career as a rubber band: when you stretch it, it snaps back into shape. If you don’t stretch it, you won’t know how far it can go. Failures and experiments push you out of your comfort zone. They force you to grow in ways you didn’t think possible. So, the next time you fail—or better yet, experiment and fail—remember that resilience is built from the recovery.
It’s not about avoiding failure; it’s about recovering from it faster and better. It’s about building that “bounce-back” muscle that gets you up and running quicker than ever before.
Why Women Need to Fail More Often: Making Room for Imperfection
In a world that tells us we must excel, fail, but never admit it, women often end up playing it too safe. We sit on ideas, wait for the perfect moment, or shy away from opportunities because we fear the backlash of failure. But here’s the thing: the more you fail, the more you’ll succeed. In the corporate world, innovation often comes from testing, failing, and adapting. Think of all the incredible women in history who pushed the boundaries of what was “possible”—they didn’t succeed by being perfect; they succeeded by trying, experimenting, and failing—and learning from it.
Take, for example, a woman who’s starting her own business. She tests an idea. It fails. So, she adjusts, tweaks, and relaunches. Then it fails again. But she keeps going, and eventually, something clicks. She finds the right rhythm. The success doesn’t come without the failures. And when it happens, it’s sweeter than any polished, “perfect” success could ever be. Because she knows what it’s like to fail, to pivot, and to come back stronger.
The reality is this: failure isn’t a reflection of your worth. It’s simply a part of the process. If you embrace failure as part of the learning curve, your career will blossom in ways you can’t even predict.
Taking Control: Embracing the Chaos
Let’s face it: life isn’t tidy. Careers aren’t linear. And in that beautiful chaos, there’s power. Women are so often expected to handle everything with grace, finesse, and perfection, but in reality, most of us are just winging it. And that’s okay! The more we try, fail, and experiment, the more we learn to handle the unexpected.
So, the next time something doesn’t go according to plan—when your great idea crashes and burns, or that proposal you spent weeks working on gets shot down—don’t panic. Laugh, pick yourself up, and get back in the game.
Failure isn’t the end of the story. It’s just the messy middle. And in the mess, you’ll find your way forward.
“Failure is not the opposite of success; it is part of the process.”