October, is known to many as “spooky season” — and October with Friday the 13th mixed in? Extra spooky! 👻

But do you know what Friday, October 13th of this year actually is? International Day for Failure.

🤨 Huh?

Yup. You heard that right. But don’t worry — it’s not supposed to add to the scare. Failure, in some capacities, can be something to embrace.

Here are some ways to fail forward and take advantage of a situation most people shy away from.

The Lesson in Every Letdown

Think of failure as that one friend everyone has — you know the one. They are the person you go to when you need a little tough love to keep you moving forward.

• Mistakes and failures offer an opportunity for self-analysis and discovery.
• They allow you to understand what went wrong and what changes to make in the future.
• They provide nuggets of information that you can store and use to your advantage when you need to.

In each setback, big or small, there's a valuable lesson you can take away to use for a brighter tomorrow. 💫

Resilience is Your Best Friend

Resilience, in the world of entrepreneurship, is like your trusty sidekick. You need a little resilience to take on the world.

• Resilience gives you that extra cushion to be able to endure setbacks.
• It helps you develop the determination and tenacity required to navigate the different landscape.
• Each failure builds grit — which prepares you to be better equipped to take on future challenges.

Your capacity to bounce back from tough times and face challenges head-on is a trait you'll come to appreciate.

The Birthplace of Innovation

You'd be surprised how some of the world's most groundbreaking innovations have their roots in failure.

• Some of the greatest innovators, like Thomas Edison, have famously stated, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
• Failure encourages you to think creatively, take risks, and explore unconventional solutions.
• Failure often leads to surprising breakthroughs and improvements in your original ideas.

Don’t see failure as an end —see it as an opportunity to keep growing. 🌱

Adapting and Evolving

The business world is like a constantly shifting puzzle — what fits today may not fit tomorrow.

• The ability to adapt will set you apart in a dynamic business landscape.
• Understanding that change is the only constant will keep you ahead of the curve.
• Evolving and growing helps you avoid falling into the pit of complacency.

Failure is your friendly reminder that it's time to pivot and move with the times.

Building Deeper Connections

There’s no faking it until you make it. Honesty is an important part of trust — sharing your failures humanizes you and your brand. Plus, it feels good to just be real. 💁‍♀️

• Vulnerability in acknowledging your failures builds deeper connections with your customers.
• Authenticity fosters a sense of loyalty and bridges the gap between seller and buyer.
• Showcasing the real you is something no other business can take away from you.

It's a way of showing that you're not a faceless corporation and that you care about the people you work with.

Keeping the Fire Burning

Success has a sneaky way of lulling you into complacency. But failure? It drives you.

• Failure can be that fiery motivator, pushing you to strive for improvement.
• It opens the door for you to go out and explore new opportunities.
• It’s also something that keeps you humble and shows you unconventional ways to go about new things.

Use the fire of motivation to keep you climbing the ladder of success.

Fail Forward

As we look to the International Day for Failure — let's rewrite the story.

It’s time to shift the narrative from something to fear, to a catalyst for positive change.

Failure is simply a part of your entrepreneurial journey. Embrace it, learn from it, and use it as your co-pilot on your path to success. 🚀