By Bernard Kelvin CLIVE
“Embrace failure as much as possible; that’s how remarkable art is created. If you are too careful you kill the creativity” – Bernard Kelvin Clive
Today, we’re examining how failure can help us build and grow—whether it’s building our brands or our businesses. The subject of failure is often hard for many people to accept. In fact, no one really wants to experience failure in any field, and coming to terms with it can be both daunting and difficult.
However, as the quote above suggests, embracing failure as much as possible is essential for creativity. Through these failures, or what we often refer to as mistakes, we grow, learn, and develop. Let’s break this down further. Failures are a part of success—they can even be seen as prerequisites for it.
Successful individuals in any field have likely encountered numerous failures while building or growing their brands and businesses. Failure is a universal experience, but it’s how we interpret it that matters most. Some people might take a single setback and never recover, while others might experience multiple setbacks but continue to rise and persevere. They keep hitting their target, even if it means approaching it from different angles.
Developing an inner spirit and a mindset to overcome these challenges is key. Failure, or what I prefer to call mistakes, serves as a milestone for success—a stepping stone toward achieving your goals. The most important aspect of dealing with failure is viewing it as a learning process.
Ask yourself: What am I learning from this? I may have believed I was doing the right thing, but if I didn’t achieve my desired outcome, it might be perceived as a failure. However, another interpretation is that it’s a learning opportunity. Your mindset should focus on the meaning you assign to failures, obstacles, or challenges while building your brand or business.
Consider what positive lessons you can draw from your experiences. If, for example, your initial approach to your art or content didn’t perform well based on feedback, think about what changes you need to make. Should you tweak your approach, add something new, or further develop your skills? Every mistake is a milestone of learning and growth. Reflect on what you can take away from each experience and how you can enhance your abilities. This process helps build stamina and capacity, allowing you to advance beyond your previous achievements.
Taking on Failure: Building Stamina and Creativity
Just as athletes build stamina and strengthen their muscles to go the extra mile, we too must build resilience in our fields as we grow our brands. We must have the stamina to overcome challenges that we may initially regard as failures. By reinterpreting these challenges as opportunities, we can view them as obstacles to overcome to achieve our ultimate goals.
Failures should be interpreted with a growth perspective. Consider what you can learn and how you might improve your approach. For example, I’ve written several novels, some of which have sold well and others have not. Rather than considering the less successful ones as failures, I see them as teaching opportunities.
Did the content help someone, even if only one person? It’s all about shifting your perspective and recognizing that even books or products that don’t perform well offer valuable insights.
Celebrate every step forward: writing content, creating videos, or making a single sale. Each small achievement is a sign of progress. By focusing on the positive aspects of your journey and continually refining your creativity and brand, you can foster growth.
If you become overly critical of yourself, it can stifle your growth. Instead, allow yourself room to experiment and make mistakes. Some of the greatest discoveries and innovations come from these very mistakes. For example, I’ve found that some of my most impactful content emerged from unexpected places, like a playful experiment with a cover design or a spontaneous idea.
Permit yourself to play, to fail, and to explore. This approach will not only build your confidence but also lead to discovering remarkable and innovative solutions.
Permission to Play, Permission to Fail: The Creative Journey
Permitting yourself to play and to fail is essential for creating great art and fostering creativity. Think of mistakes as part of a creative journey. In many fields, embracing failure is not just acceptable—it’s essential. By making room for these experiences, you allow yourself to grow, learn, and develop.
Consider your mistakes as milestones in your journey. They are opportunities to wonder, discover new things, and experiment with unconventional ideas. For instance, trying out new recipes or testing different approaches may reveal unexpected insights. Allow yourself to explore and experiment while accepting that mistakes are inevitable.
When creating content or developing your brand, there are established methods and norms, but there is also room for creativity. Consider what you can add or delete, and what fresh components you can bring to the table.
Maintain a mindset open to accepting failures and mistakes as part of your journey. This openness will help you create remarkable work through the lessons learned from your experiments.
Every day, week, and month, reflect on what you’ve learned from your failures and accomplishments. Embracing this approach will help you be more creative since it allows you to explore, learn, and grow. You’ll notice that your creativity and talent develop over time as you allow yourself to face and learn from your failures in a positive perspective.
So today, I encourage you to permit yourself to try new things and to embrace failure. Write that book, create that content, and put your brand out there—even if nothing is happening at first. Keep pushing and learning, and you’ll eventually see great results. Keep moving forward, and remember: growth comes from the courage to explore and the resilience to learn from your journey.
Important Ideas and Actionable Steps
Key Lessons:
– Failures are stepping stones. See failing as a teaching moment rather than a setback.
– Mindset matters: Your view of failure will define your progress.
– Celebrate growth: Every little step forward marks a win.
– Play and explore: Let yourself explore fresh ideas and play.
Use mistakes to hone your skills and raise your competency.
Suggested Actionable Steps:
– Rethink failures: Ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” upon a setback.
– Set goals: Clearly state your goals and acknowledge every little milestone.
– Regular experiments: Though they seem dangerous, try new things.
– Get Feedback: To find areas needing work, ask them for frank assessments.
– Develop self-care; treat yourself gently and steer clear of self-criticism.
I hope this helped. Now it’s your turn, go make great things happen!
Keep building and growing your brand.
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Bernard Kelvin Clive is a leading authority on personal branding and digital book publishing in Africa. With over a decade of experience in digital publishing, he has been a trusted consultant for entrepreneurs, pastors, and individuals looking to build their brands and write their books.
. To learn more about Bernard and his work, visit www.BKC.name. WhatsApp: +233244961121
