Who's Ready to Fail?
Entrepreneur Office Hours - Issue #284
I’m at the end of my third week in Silicon Valley, and one of the overarching themes of my time here is failure. Specifically, everyone keeps referencing how people in Silicon Valley are much more comfortable with failure than they are in other parts of the world. They even claim their comfort with failure is a key secret to the region’s entrepreneurial and economic success.
By the way, when I tell you “everyone” — it really does feel like everyone. Obviously, the startup founders and venture capitalists talk about it. However, I’ve also heard employees at companies like Netflix, AirBnB, Yelp, Nvidia, and Apple praise the value of failure. I’ve overheard people referencing it at coffee shops and restaurants. I even met the mayor of San Francisco, and he gave a shoutout to the value of failure.
Of course, if you’ve been following me for a while, you know I’ve also got strong opinions about failure since, for the past decade, I’ve taught a class called Learning to Fail. With that in mind, I’m going to do something I’ve been thinking about for a while (and lots of you have been requesting for years): I’m finally going to begin creating online resources and developing an online Learning to Fail curriculum.
What, exactly, will it include? Is it a class? Is it a website? Is it a book? Is it videos?
Those are all great questions with evolving answers. For now, I can tell you I’m working on a book (you may have even seen a video about that if you follow me on other platforms). I’m also talking with Duke about finding a way to offer an online version of my Learning to Fail class. And, of course, I’ve got lots of great concepts for more Learning to Fail videos.
For now, however, the first steps are to figure out who’s interested and to begin building a community, which I’m doing by creating a weekly Learning to Fail newsletter.
While I realize I could automatically subscribe all of you, I don’t like abusing email addresses, so, instead, I’m inviting all of you to join.
If you’re interested (it’s still free), please join here. I’m planning to start sending out issues in the next couple weeks.
Come fail with me!
-Aaron
P.S. If you’re wondering what’s happening to Entrepreneur Office Hours, I don’t currently have any plans to change what I’m doing here, and I’ll be back in your inbox next Friday with a new issue.
This week’s new articles…
What Smart Founders Do When VCs Say No
Nobody likes being rejected (even entrepreneurs who are supposed to be “resilient”), but what matters most is how you respond.
The Best Entrepreneurs Are Smart Enough to Not Build Startups
What if you could be a great entrepreneur without ever have to deal with the challenge of launching your own company?
Office Hours Q&A
QUESTION:
Hi Dr. Dinin,
I saw one of your videos on Instagram, and I think your class could be amazing for my daughter. She’s just finishing her first year of college and putting so much pressure on herself to have everything figured out. Is there any way for her to take your Learning to Fail class, even if she’s not at Duke?
Thank you so much for what you’re doing — it’s exactly the kind of message young people need right now.
—Andrea
Dear Aaron,
I’m in my late 50s and, if I’m being honest, I’ve spent most of my life avoiding failure. I took the safe jobs, stuck to the clear paths, and now I’m starting to realize how much I may have missed. A friend forwarded me one of your videos, and I’ve been devouring your content ever since.
I know your Learning to Fail course is geared toward students, but I’m wondering if there’s a version of it for someone like me? I’d love to be part of a learning environment where failure isn’t shameful but actually useful. Let me know if there’s any way I can sign up.
With appreciation,
David
Hey Aaron,
I don’t know if this is the kind of message you get a lot, but here goes. I’m 28, working a job I hate, and every day I get a little more convinced I’m wasting my potential. I have some really big ideas, but I can’t seem to act on them because I’m scared of messing up. Then I found your class. And honestly? It hit something deep.
Is there any way a normal, working person can take Learning to Fail? Because I think I need it. Bad.
Thanks either way,
Arthur
As you just read, for this week’s Q&A, I decided to share some examples of the types of messages I get every week from people asking to take my Learning to Fail class. And reading those messages while being out in Silicon Valley has me motivated to help.
After all, why should people in Silicon Valley should have a better relationship with failure than communities elsewhere? And if being comfortable with failure really is the secret to the Bay Area’s entrepreneurial success, I guess we’re about to take away their competitive advantage. Come join me.
Got startup questions of your own? Reply to this email with whatever you want to know, and I’ll do my best to answer.