"We need to accept that we won't always make the right decisions, that we'll screw up royally sometimes - understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it's part of success"

Acknowledging the inevitability of mistakes is a crucial step toward a healthier approach to ambition and achievement. Every human being, even the most celebrated leaders and innovators, will inevitably face moments of misjudgment or error. The willingness to accept this truth helps relieve the pressure to be perfect and, in turn, liberates individuals to pursue opportunities they might otherwise avoid out of fear of failure.

The message highlights that missteps are not deviations from the path to success but an integral part of the journey itself. Rather than viewing failures as setbacks or signals to give up, they can be embraced as essential learning experiences. Each mistake offers valuable insight, about oneself, a process, or the world, and these lessons accumulate to shape a wiser, more adaptable individual. Through ‘screwing up royally,’ a person is provided the raw material necessary to refine their decision-making and build resilience.

Consider the world’s most impactful creators, entrepreneurs, or thinkers; rarely have they achieved excellence on the first try. More often, their achievements are stitched together from a tapestry of failed projects, lost opportunities, and wrong turns. The important shift in mindset lies in seeing failure not as the enemy of success but as its companion. Success is not a straight line but a series of attempts, adjustments, and redirections born from feedback, sometimes harsh, that only real setbacks can provide.

Adopting such an outlook cultivates perseverance. It encourages persistence in the face of adversity, fosters humility, and nurtures creativity. When people are less afraid of ‘screwing up,’ they are more likely to try bold, innovative actions. Ultimately, recognizing failure as part of the process reframes challenges, so each misstep becomes a stepping stone rather than a dead end, redefining what it means to truly succeed.