Failing Forward
In Build First, you will fail constantly. This is not a bug. It is the feature.
The Failure Reality
When you build first, before you fully understand, failure is guaranteed:
- Code will not run
- Designs will look wrong
- Projects will stall
- Deadlines will slip
- Nothing will work on the first try
This is normal. Expected. Even necessary.
Why We Fear Failure
Most people avoid failure because:
It feels like evidence of inadequacy: "I failed because I am not good enough."
It seems inefficient: "I could have avoided this if I prepared more."
It is embarrassing: "What will people think?"
It is uncomfortable: "I do not like feeling like I do not know what I am doing."
These feelings are real. They are also wrong.
The Truth About Failure
Failure is not evidence of inadequacy. It is evidence of attempt.
People who never fail are people who never try anything beyond their current abilities. They stay safe. They stay static.
Failure means you pushed into new territory. You tried something hard. You grew.
Failing Forward vs. Failing Backward
Not all failure is equal:
Failing Backward:
- Fail and quit
- Fail and blame external factors
- Fail and learn nothing
- Fail the same way repeatedly
Failing Forward:
- Fail and analyze what went wrong
- Fail and extract the lesson
- Fail and adjust approach
- Fail differently each time (making new mistakes, not old ones)
The direction matters. Same failure, different outcome depending on what you do with it.
The Failure Process
When something fails, follow this process:
1. Notice without judgment Something did not work. That is a fact, not a verdict on your worth.
2. Analyze specifically What exactly went wrong? Not "the whole thing" but the specific point of failure.
3. Ask why Why did that specific thing go wrong? Get to root cause.
4. Identify the lesson What do you know now that you did not know before?
5. Decide the adjustment What will you do differently next time?
6. Continue Apply the lesson. Keep building.
This process transforms failure from setback to data.
Common Failure Types
In building, failures fall into patterns:
Syntax/Technical failures: Something broken in execution. Lesson: Learn the syntax, understand the tools better.
Design failures: It works but it is wrong. Lesson: Understand requirements better, get feedback earlier.
Scope failures: You tried to do too much. Lesson: Start smaller, add complexity later.
Motivation failures: You stopped because it got hard. Lesson: Break into smaller pieces, find accountability.
Knowledge failures: You hit a wall you could not get past. Lesson: Improve your learning stack, ask for help sooner.
Knowing the type helps you target the response.
The Speed of Failure
In Build First, you want to fail fast.
Slow failure: Spend months on something before discovering it does not work. Fast failure: Discover in days or hours that something does not work.
Fast failure is:
- Cheaper (less time invested)
- Less demoralizing (smaller psychological investment)
- More informative (tighter feedback loop)
How to fail fast:
- Build minimum versions before complete versions
- Test early with real users or real conditions
- Ship before it is perfect and see what breaks
- Cut scope ruthlessly
The Public Failure Question
Should you fail publicly?
Arguments for:
- Builds authenticity and connection
- Helps others learn from your mistakes
- Creates accountability to continue
Arguments against:
- Some failures are private lessons
- Not every struggle needs an audience
- Performative failure can become its own trap
My recommendation: Share failures selectively. Share the lessons. Do not overshare the drama.
The Identity Shift
Build First requires an identity shift around failure:
From: "I am someone who does not fail" (and therefore does not try hard things) To: "I am someone who fails forward" (and therefore grows constantly)
When failure is integrated into your identity, it loses its power to stop you. It becomes just another part of the process.
The Failure Tolerance
Your failure tolerance is how much failure you can absorb before giving up.
Low failure tolerance: One setback and you quit. High failure tolerance: Multiple setbacks and you adjust and continue.
Failure tolerance is trainable. Each failure survived expands your capacity.
This is why starting with small projects matters—they have small failures. As tolerance grows, you can handle bigger projects with bigger failures.
Your Failure Reframe
Think of a recent failure—something that did not go as planned.
Ask:
- What specifically went wrong?
- What was the lesson?
- What adjustment did you make (or could you make)?
- How does this failure serve you?
This reframe is the practice. Do it enough and failure becomes neutral—just information for the next attempt.
Failure is not the opposite of success. It is the path to success. Fail forward, and failing becomes building.
Next: How small improvements compound into massive results.