Get All Access for $5/mo

4 Ways I Fail Forward on a Daily Basis and Why You Should Do the Same Failure isn't as scary if you consider it a necessary step toward eventual success.

By Jim Joseph

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

YakobchukOlena | Getty Images

I'm not one for buzzwords. Boil the ocean. Lean in on the issue. Unpack the meeting. Blah blah blah.

But I like the idea of failing forward. It basically means that it's okay to fail as long as you learn from your mistakes. How could I mind that? What's not to like about learning?

But I'd like to take the buzz out of the phrase and make it more tangible. So here's how I've started to proactively fail forward in my work.

Related: 8 Hugely Successful People Who Didn't Graduate College

1. Take risks

If it's okay to fail as long as you learn from it, then I'm going to embrace this notion and take more risks. This newfound attitude gives me tremendous permission to try new things and see if they'll work. If they don't, then at least I've tried and learned.

And by the way, maybe they won't all fail!

2. Learn constantly

I believe that learning is both sequential and concurrent. So, I'm going to make sure that the lessons I learn through failure will stack on one another, each piece of learning helping the next.

Failing and learning shouldn't be one-offs or isolated incidents. They should weave together in a constant stream of learning that builds and rewards as we move forward. That way, we can improve and eventually succeed more often than we fail.

Related: Do These 50 Things Regularly and You'll Become a Better Entrepreneur

3. Search and reapply

We can also learn from each other's mistakes. I always say marketing is a spectator sport, meaning we can learn from watching each other's brand activities -- both the wins and losses.

Failing forward is certainly a part of that, particularly as we watch big brands make public mistakes that quickly become social media fodder.

4. Accept failure

This one is the hardest, at least for me, by far.

It's not easy to fail. It's not something we were taught to do. It distracts us from our mission and it takes time away from being successful.

Or does it? Do we need to shift that thinking? Maybe we should accept failure as a natural part of the path to succeeding.

Related: How 5 Entrepreneurs With Household Names Turned Failing Businesses Into Successes

I'm learning to fail forward on a daily basis, not only for myself but for my teams as well. As a business leader, I need to create an environment where failing forward is accepted and embraced as part of a learning culture that seeks continuous improvement. For me and my teams, that improvement includes actively learning from our individual and collective mistakes.

I'd encourage you to create a culture of failing and learning from your mistakes in your business, too.

Jim Joseph

Marketing Master - Author - Blogger - Dad

Jim Joseph is a commentator on the marketing industry. He is Global President of the marketing communications agency BCW, author of The Experience Effect series and an adjunct instructor at New York University.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

Is One Company to Blame for Soaring Rental Prices in the U.S.?

The FBI recently raided a major corporate landlord while investigating a rent price-fixing scheme. Here's what we know.

Side Hustle

This Former Starbucks Employee Started a Side Hustle That's Making More Than $70,000 a Month — and He's Not Done Yet

When Tom Saar moved to New York City, he spotted a lucrative business opportunity.

Devices

Stay Focused at Work with These $110 Beats Fit Pro Earbuds

Lock in with a great deal on earbuds with spatial audio and active noise cancellation.

Franchise

'Unpredictability in Various Forms' — How Franchisees Can Adapt and Protect Themselves From Election Year Uncertainty

Franchising can be both exciting and challenging, especially during times of unpredictability — like a U.S. presidential election year.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

Amazon Has a Blank Book Problem: Buyers Report Receiving Fakes of Bestselling UFO Book

The book looked fine on the outside, but the inside was out-of-this-world.