3: How has a failure set you up for later success?

The third question to tackle from “Tribe of Mentors” by Tim Ferriss (you can see all of the questions here) is this one:

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a “favorite failure” of yours?

There were two great answers that I highlighted from the book.

First, from Janna Levin, quoting Albert Einstein:

A friend warns, “Einstein, you have be careful. Your famous name will be on these papers.” Einstein laughs. “My name is on plenty of wrong papers,” he says.

The other is from Anna Holmes:

I am a complete failure at the politics of the workplace. Probably because I just don’t have the stomach for it. I like collaborative environments where people who work hard and do good work get rewarded for it, no matter who they are. I hate machinations and behind-the-scenes strategizing and bullshit.

While I’d love to come up with an insightful idea to go with those, I have to simply agree with Anna. I’m not good at playing politics in any arena, and I’m ok with that. I know it can cost me at times, but I’d much rather just play things straight.

What failure have you gone through that has turned out to be a benefit?