Failure Before Success

Awesome post by Tom Pestridge on how failure has to come before success. This image nails it — Colonel Sanders got rejected over 1,000 times before someone said yes to his now-famous KFC recipe.
Here is what he said:
Failure. Failure. Failure. Failure. Failure. Failure. Failure. Failure. Failure. Failure. Failure. Failure. Failure. Failure. Failure. Failure. Failure. SUCCESS.
This is what success often looks like.
→ Colonel Sanders’ KFC recipe was rejected 1,009 times before he found a restaurant that would sell it.
→ MrBeast uploaded 455 videos before going viral.
→ 12 publishers turned down J.K. Rowling before being accepted.
→ WD-40 was perfected on the 40th attempt.
→ Sylvester Stallone was rejected more than 1,500 times before getting Rocky made.
→ Thomas Edison failed 10,000 times before inventing the lightbulb.
→ James Dyson created 5,127 prototypes before developing the first bagless vacuum.
→ James Cameron was rejected over 100 times while trying to get The Terminator made.
→ Vincent Van Gogh only sold one painting during his lifetime.
→ Jay-Z was rejected by every major label before launching his own.
It’s easy to think nothing is working… until it does.
But every success story has a trail of failures behind it.
What really matters is how you handle those failures.
Failure = feedback.
Fail. Learn. Try again. Succeed.
Image Description
A vintage-style illustration of a KFC bucket filled with fried chicken, accompanied by the text: "Every Success Has a Trail of Failures." Below it reads, "Colonel Sanders’ KFC recipe was rejected 1,009 times before he found a restaurant that would sell it." The image is attributed to Tom Pestridge.
Positive Aspects
The image effectively captures the essence of the post by visually representing the concept of repeated failure leading to eventual success. The familiar KFC bucket draws immediate recognition, while the text reinforces the narrative that perseverance is key. It's a perfect visual metaphor for the post’s theme, adding weight and relatability.
Key Takeaways
- Success often follows multiple failures; persistence is crucial.
- Famous examples include Colonel Sanders, MrBeast, J.K. Rowling, and more, highlighting how rejection is a common part of the journey.
- Failure should be viewed as feedback, offering lessons that guide future attempts.
- The mindset of "Fail, Learn, Try again, Succeed" is key to overcoming setbacks.
Additional Insights
Failure can feel demoralizing, but viewing it as a stepping stone rather than a stopping point is transformative. Think of it like a video game: each "game over" teaches you something new about how to beat the level. Embrace failure as the ultimate growth hack!