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!
Analysis Summary
KFC, Colonel Sanders and Tom Pestridge headline stable trend data; success-through-failure narrative reinforced by high-recognition entities (MrBeast, J.K. Rowling, Stallone, WD-40). Copy blends list + PAS, leveraging social proof for easy-read motivation. Vintage-minimalist layout guides Z-pattern gaze from bold serif headline to central hand-drawn bucket, sustaining attention with beige-red palette. Content effectively inspires entrepreneurial, creator-minded millennials; maintain strong accent color and concise lists to maximize shareability.
Keywords & Trends
Trend Analysis Over Time
Trend Summary
Identified Entities
Style Analysis
Copy Analysis
6th grade level
212
Words
5.44
Words/sentence
Detected Frameworks
Uses a rapid-fire string of bullet-point examples to reinforce the core message.
Implied Problem-Agitate-Solution: Problem (people quit when they fail), Agitate (multiple reminders that rejection happens hundreds of times), Solution (reframe failure as feedback; keep going).
Highlights a common barrier (fear of failure) and offers a reframe (failure = feedback, path to success).
Psychological Triggers
Lists well-known personalities who persisted, signalling that continued effort is the norm among successful people.
Attention Analysis
Eye Flow Pattern
Top-down Z-pattern: viewers read the headline, drop to the vivid bucket in the center, then continue downward to read the paragraph before finishing on the small signature.
