Success built on failures (Instagram cartoon)

Cartoonist Brendan Leonard nails it with this visual. Success looks like a staircase, but zoom in — every step is made of smaller blocks labeled “failure.” It’s simple, funny, and truth-hammer accurate.

Why this hits hard

• It reframes failure as progress, not defeat.
• The bright, simple art makes a deep idea approachable.
• People feel this message because it’s their story too.
• It’s highly shareable — motivational content that’s not cheesy.

Real-world proof

• Dyson made 5,126 failed prototypes before his first successful vacuum.
• James Clear rewrote Atomic Habits dozens of times before launch.
• Pixar’s Toy Story had years of script and animation overhauls.
• Spanx was rejected by multiple manufacturers before one said yes.

Every success story’s got a pile of tiny, useful failures underneath.