"I think you have to try and fail, because failure gets you closer to what you’re good at."

Failure isn't the enemy; it's a stepping stone. This idea boils down to viewing failure not as a dead-end but as a crucial part of discovering your strengths. When you try something and it doesn’t work out, you're not just adding to your list of failures—you're actually honing in on what you're truly good at. Each attempt, each misstep, is a clue leading you closer to your genuine talents and abilities.

Historically, this philosophy has been echoed by countless successful individuals. Think of Thomas Edison. Before he invented the lightbulb, he had a thousand tries that didn’t work. He famously said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." In essence, every failure brought him one step closer to that one illuminating success. Edison didn’t see those attempts as wasted time; he saw them as necessary experiments to find what he was meant to do.

Picture this: Let’s say you’re an aspiring chef. You whip up a new dish, and it turns out to be a culinary disaster—your friends are polite, but their faces say it all. Instead of feeling like you should throw in the towel and never touch a frying pan again, you take notes. Maybe the sauce was too salty, or the chicken wasn’t cooked through. The next time, you adjust. You fail again, but differently. Eventually, you create something everyone loves. That initial failure didn’t deter you; it honed your skills and guided you to become the chef you’re meant to be.

So, how can you apply this wisdom in your own life? First off, don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try new things, even if you might fail. It’s tempting to stick to what you know, but that’s not where growth happens. When you do fail—and you will—take it in stride. Analyze what went wrong, tweak your approach, and try again. This process of trial and error is invaluable. It’s through these experiences that you’ll unearth your true strengths.

Imagine you're at a coffee shop with a friend. Your friend, let’s call her Sarah, has been working a corporate job for years but feels unfulfilled. She’s always dreamed of opening a bakery but is terrified of failing. You remind her of the countless stories of successful people who failed before they found their calling. You talk about Edison, about chefs experimenting in kitchens, and you tell Sarah it’s okay to fail. In fact, it’s necessary. If she tries and her bakery doesn’t take off immediately, she’ll learn—maybe her pastries need tweaking, or her marketing strategy needs a revamp. But each failure will guide her, refine her skills, and eventually, she’ll get there.

The beauty of trying and failing is that it's a journey of self-discovery. You find out what you’re good at, what you're passionate about, and what you’re not. So go ahead, give yourself permission to fail. It’s not the end; it’s just the beginning of discovering what you’re truly meant to do.