Play Big, Fail Small

Thinking small and failing small are not the same.

We all have projects and ideas we'd love to bring to life, but too often, we hesitate to begin.

We falsely convince ourselves that the project isn't worth it and hide behind these explanations.

Yet the truth is that we “fear failure”.

The reality is, it's easier than ever to experiment in today's world. Just a few years ago, it was challenging for someone to undertake a side project like building an app. A new writer couldn't imagine publishing a book, and building a brand seemed impossible without substantial funds. The internet has made it easy and inexpensive to create things. The cost of failure, both in terms of money and time, is much lower nowadays.

The beauty in trying is not that it ensures success, but that it lets us discover we can survive even when we fail.

That's why failing small and failing often sets us on the path to something bigger. It helps us learn that small failures don't kill us, which encourages us to try more.

How about doing something that matters? Isn’t life more than finding a better shopping deal or grinding away 40 years in a job we hate?

We can continue doing things that bring in money and ensure our survival, while also giving ourselves the opportunity to create something by starting a small side project. This way, we allow ourselves the chance to fail and grow.

Positive thinking is better than negative thinking, but it doesn’t ensure results. It’s only through taking “action” and investing in hard work that we set ourselves on the path to success.

Ask yourself - “What is the smallest possible project that you can take on?” Because small is achievable. We choose big goals because they provide a way to hide if we don’t succeed.

Even worse is when we don’t choose anything at all.

“Fail early, fail often, but always fail forward.” - ―John C. Maxwell

When we overcome what we are afraid to do and continue doing it repeatedly, we move forward.