Failing Forward: Why Embracing Failure is the Real Power Move | Adulting with ADHD Podcast

We all fail. Big or small, personal or professional—failure has a sneaky way of crashing into our lives when we least expect it.

It can feel like a punch in the gut, but here’s the twist: what if failure wasn’t a signal to stop but a sign to level up? What if failure wasn’t something to avoid but something to embrace?

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That’s what failing forward is all about. It’s not about perfection or avoiding mistakes; it’s about turning those mistakes into momentum. Think of failure as feedback—a brutal, often awkward, but totally useful way the world teaches us how to grow.

Why Failure is Misunderstood

Most of us have been conditioned to fear failure. Society loves a shiny success story but skips over the bloopers and outtakes. Failure is seen as the opposite of success, a flaw in the plan, something to be hidden or fixed. But here’s the truth: every success story is built on a mountain of mistakes.

Failure isn’t a dead-end; it’s a fork in the road. It’s an opportunity to pause, take stock, and pivot. Some of the most successful people in the world—creators, innovators, leaders—are masters of failing forward. They’ve learned that the difference between staying stuck and growing is how you react when things go sideways.

The Art of Failing Forward

So how do you do it? How do you turn failure into fuel? Here are a few steps:

1. Own It
   First things first—acknowledge the failure. Skipping this step keeps you trapped in denial. Own it. Say it out loud. “Yep, that didn’t go as planned.” The quicker you face it, the quicker you move forward.

2. Get Curious
   Failure isn’t a punishment; it’s a teacher. What went wrong? What can you learn? Shifting from judgment to curiosity transforms failure into data. Every stumble is an insight waiting to be discovered.

3. Pivot, Don’t Quit
   The magic of failing forward lies in the pivot. Maybe your approach was wrong, but that doesn’t mean your goal is. Adjust, tweak, and move on.

4. Share Your Story
   The most badass thing you can do? Talk about it. When you share your failures, you break the stigma and normalize the messy middle. That vulnerability builds connection and makes failure less scary—not just for you, but for everyone around you.

Reframing Failure

Imagine if we started celebrating failure the way we celebrate wins. Not because it’s fun, but because it means we’re trying, stretching, and pushing ourselves outside our comfort zones. That’s where the good stuff happens.

Failing forward isn’t a cute catchphrase. It’s a mindset. It’s messy, uncomfortable, and sometimes humbling. But it’s also where growth lives. It’s where resilience is built and where creativity thrives.

So next time you hit a wall, take a breath. Ask yourself, What’s this teaching me? Then get back up and move forward—because failure isn’t the opposite of success. It’s part of the process.

In this episode, Stephen and Aaron dive into the concept of failing forward—turning mistakes into momentum and learning how to navigate setbacks with an ADHD brain.