Embracing failure since 1848

[IMAGE VIA THE AMERICAS LIBRARY]

I've long been a fan of Wieden & Kennedy's embrace failure philosophy.

Not only is it a great way of motivating staff and clients to push creative boundaries, but on a personal level, I'm conscious that the fear of failure rears its ugly head more often than I would like it to.

I was therefore quite chuffed with this little find; a quote courtesy of J.S. Haliday, author of The World Rushed In, capturing life in California during the 1848-1855 gold rush:

"As like no where else, you can fail in California. And I think the California gold rush taught people that failure was okay.  And the reason being that everyone failed in California - everyone, every day.  So failure, was not a distinction, not a burden, not a mark, not a shame. Failure in Des Moin, failure in Youngstown, failure in Savannah, failure in Philadelphia, well, you'd hear "what's the matter with you?  Your father's disappointed in you." You don't want to fail at home. But you feel free to fail in California. The result is that people accepted failure - which is the equivalent of saying they are willing to take risks. And California has been the most risk-taking economy and society in the nation. Maybe in the world."

This also highlights another crucial point: don't ignore history and the way that it has comes to shape the present.  Embrace history - it might just tell you a few things that consumers can't.

Comments

[fredrik sarnblad]

A great, insightful post!