Innovators know that failure isn’t fatal; it’s feedback.
“Fall seven times, stand eight” – borrowed from a Japanese proverb – captures that mindset perfectly.
The most successful people don’t avoid setbacks—they expect them, learn from them, and rise with new insight.
Every time they stand back up, it’s with a smarter approach.
Embracing this mindset isn’t just about grit; it’s about adaptability.
Each fall is an opportunity to try a new angle, to see things differently.
When you’re willing to fall and stand up again, you’re setting yourself up for a future of growth.
Making Mistakes
In school, mistakes knock us down, but life teaches a different lesson.
Mistakes don’t have to be setbacks— they can simply be steps.
Just as scientists and entrepreneurs use failure as a tool for learning, we can redefine success by embracing mistakes as part of the process.
A culture that encourages responsible risk-taking allows teams to stretch further, innovate more, and bounce back stronger.
The best innovators aren’t afraid to stumble.
Instead, they recognize mistakes are often the portals of discovery.
Each fall can be one step closer to mastery.
What’s your Firebird?
When GM launched its Firebird prototype in 1953, it wasn’t about profit—it was about possibility.
The Firebird allowed for blue-sky thinking and unincumbered experimentation.
And through a series of missteps, it became GM’s blueprint for the future.
Disc brakes and cruise control, ideas that now define the industry, were born from GM’s willingness to use past learnings to fuel bold, risk-managed experiments.
What if we, too, channeled our stumbles into wild innovation?
Whether in insurance or aviation, start with an extreme vision of what could be, then refine it.
This kind of forward-thinking experimentation doesn’t just keep us relevant; it drives us forward.
Lady Gaga’s First Song; Picasso’s First Painting
Gaga didn’t start off filling stadiums, and Picasso wasn’t born a legend.
In fact, they both achieved mastery by embracing mistakes, refining their skills, and exhibiting relentless determination.
There’s not a person we admire that didn’t stumble along the way.
Yet we often avoid new challenges, fearing the mistakes we’ll inevitably make.
Real progress only comes from trial, error, and learning.
If you’re serious about reaching your potential, you’ll welcome the mistakes as markers of growth.
Keep moving, and don’t let the fear of failure block your path to greatness.
To your creative success…
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About Josh
Josh Linkner is a New York Times bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, venture capital investor, professional jazz guitarist, and a globally recognized innovation expert. To learn more or to explore a collaboration, visit JoshLinkner.com
