What if the obstacles you’re facing today contain the exact insights you need for tomorrow’s breakthrough?
Research suggests our greatest innovations often emerge from the ashes of our most humbling disappointments.
This week, we’ll explore the fascinating psychology behind “What’s the Gift” – the counterintuitive advantage hidden within setbacks that most people miss entirely.
You’ll discover the remarkable pattern behind Rovio Entertainment’s transformation from near-bankruptcy to global phenomenon, revealing why their 51 failures weren’t failures at all but essential experiments leading to their 52nd game that changed everything.
We’ll examine why top performers across industries don’t just learn new approaches but deliberately unlearn outdated mental models that invisibly constrain their thinking.
There’s a compelling difference between those who view mistakes as terminal failures versus those who extract specific actionable wisdom from each disappointment.
The scientific evidence suggests that our relationship with setbacks might be the single greatest predictor of innovative capacity.
Are you ready to transform how you metabolize disappointment?
The Importance of Unlearning
The most dangerous phrase in business isn’t “I failed” – it’s “I already know that.”
When we think about growth, we obsess over what to learn next. But what if the real breakthrough comes from what we’re willing to unlearn?
The most successful leaders don’t just add new skills – they actively shed outdated approaches that no longer serve them.
Think about it: That management technique you mastered in 2015 might be precisely what’s holding you back today.
I’ve watched countless organizations cling to “best practices” that transformed into “obsolete habits” without anyone noticing the transition.
In my own companies, our biggest innovations often emerged after we deliberately abandoned previously sacred strategies.
What beliefs are you clutching that might need releasing? What “truths” deserve questioning?
The gift hidden within our setbacks is the opportunity to see which assumptions need challenging.
Your next breakthrough isn’t just about learning what’s new – it’s about having the courage to unlearn what’s comfortable.
When You Fail, Don’t Get Sad… Get Angry Birds
What if your 51 failures aren’t failures at all – but necessary steps toward your 52nd attempt, which emerges as your greatest breakthrough?
Science tells us that innovation rarely follows a linear path, instead emerging through what researchers call “productive failure.”
Rovio Entertainment’s transformation from near-bankruptcy to launching Angry Birds demonstrates this principle with remarkable clarity.
The cognitive breakthrough came when they stopped seeing each unsuccessful game as a dead end and started viewing it as valuable market research.
Notice their methodical approach: they analyzed iPhone user behavior and established specific criteria for success before developing their next iteration.
This represents what psychologists call “intelligent persistence” – continuing forward while systematically incorporating lessons from previous disappointments.
What’s particularly fascinating about Rovio’s breakthrough is how it wasn’t just about game development but recognizing the broader brand potential beyond the original product.
Perhaps the greatest gift in our setbacks isn’t just what they teach us about our current project, but how they prepare us to recognize entirely new opportunities we couldn’t have imagined at the outset.
The Past is Dead
The heaviest weight we carry isn’t physical – it’s the burden of our past mistakes and regrets.
When we obsess over what went wrong yesterday, we sacrifice the opportunity to create something remarkable today.
I’ve seen brilliant leaders become paralyzed by previous setbacks, allowing ancient history to dictate their future potential.
Here’s what you can do now: First, schedule a “business funeral” – have a ceremony when your ideas don’t pan out. Celebrate failures (taking risks) or the retiring of outdated traditions.
Second, establish a “failure conversion system” where you document the gift within each setback before consciously moving forward.
Third, create a “future focus calendar” with specific milestones that pull your attention toward possibilities rather than problems.
Remember, your rear-view mirror is smaller than your windshield for a reason – what’s ahead matters far more than what’s behind.
The gift isn’t in avoiding mistakes; it’s in refusing to let them define your future.
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
