Learning from Failure
Did you know that some of the movies we see as seminal classics were failures when they were first released?
This could be true of so many films, but in this case, I’m thinking of some of the first films many of us enjoyed, those Disney classics, like Bambi, Fantasia, Dumbo, and Alice in Wonderland. These are just a few that almost plunged the studio into bankruptcy. Now, we think of them as seminal works of animation that show the beautiful touches of Walt and other key artists like Mary Blair and the Nine Old Men (despite some of the problematic themes that emerge within them).
Wondering why I’m giving you a Disney-themed history lesson? Aside from my love of it (I’m a Disney adult, but not one of the scary ones, I promise!), I was recently inspired by learning all of this while reading the book, The Queens of Animation by Nathalia Holt. In it, the history of the studio is chronicled through the lens of the women who repeatedly broke the glass ceiling there, from inception all the way to the release of Frozen (that’s a whole other newsletter!). A company that is now a monolith of American success and known worldwide once really struggled to get off the ground.
This knowledge sunk into me as I was contemplating how my own business is shaping up close to three years on (depending on how you count). I have days where I look at my business and feel immense pride and success: I built something I’m proud to tell others about, that I feel puts actual good into the world, and in which I can nurture both my own needs and those of my clients.
But, I also have days where I look at my business and only see the struggle: I have months where I need help paying bills from family, I can’t do some of the things I want, and I am in a fallow period, where work is not as busy as I would like it to be, where the growth is still waiting and blooms of my toil have not yet sprung forth.
It’s in these moments that I need reminding that my business is still a toddler, and we are still finding our steady feet and learning to walk. Like everyone, there are moments of bold growth and joy and moments of frustration where I could easily collapse into a puddle of tears.
But, like Walt did with his burgeoning studio, I know I must continue to bet on myself. I’m not a failure, but if I stop keeping the faith, then I’ve failed myself.
I don’t write all this to have a pity party, but because there are constant stories in the media about how much easier it is to “grow wealth” or “get rich quick” if you just find that side hustle or switch to running your own business. Those of us who are in it know that just isn’t true. In fact, I wasn’t sure that I even wanted to share any of this with you, reader. The advice given is typically to stay quiet and say things like, “...it isn’t as busy as I want it to be, but I’m doing great!” Most of the time I am, but sometimes I’m not—and that’s OK, too.
Lesson Learned: We all need to know we aren’t alone, and sometimes that comes from the most unexpected of places. As Brené Brown teaches us, there is courage in vulnerability. So here I am, trying to stay courageous and keep the faith. I hope that this could do the same for someone else today.
