Go for the no

Fear of failure can be paralyzing. So many of my clients struggle with it. They worry that if they fail, people will judge or laugh at them. They worry that failure is proof that they are not talented, worthy, or up to the task. They worry that failure means they will never succeed.

We can all probably relate on some level. I know I can.

But the most successful and fulfilled people I know wear their failures like a badge of honor. They allow themselves to fail often. In some sense, they actively seek out failure and rejection.

They “go for the no.”

Every failure is just more proof of their courage, vulnerability, and resilience. Every failure is an opportunity to learn something new. Every failure is an important stepping stone on the path to success.

How might you approach your life and career differently if you thought of failure not as the antithesis of success but as success’s most essential ingredient?


Peter Schulte AI-generated headshot

I help aspiring changemakers do good in the world and feel good in the process.

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