The Fear of Failure—and Why It’s a Gift
- Tim Thürnau
- Mar 26
- 3 min read
"Failure isn’t the end—it’s the starting point of something better."
Hello friend,
Let’s talk about failure. No one likes it. In fact, most of us avoid it like the plague. We associate it with shame, embarrassment, and setbacks. But what if failure wasn’t the enemy? What if it was a gift?
I’ve failed—many times. There were moments when I felt like giving up, moments when I questioned if I was capable of doing this podcast, writing articles, or even pursuing my dreams. But looking back, every failure taught me something I couldn’t have learned otherwise.
Failure, when you embrace it, becomes a powerful teacher. It strips away illusions and shows you where you need to grow.
Why We Fear Failure
Failure feels so personal. It hits us at the core of our identity, making us believe we’re not enough. But here’s the truth: failure isn’t about who you are—it’s about what you did.
It’s also cultural. We live in a world where success is celebrated, and mistakes are hidden. But every successful person you admire has failed—probably more than once.
Reframing Failure as a Gift
When you stop running from failure and start learning from it, here’s what happens:
You Build Resilience: Failure strengthens your ability to bounce back and try again.
You Learn Faster: Mistakes highlight gaps in your knowledge, forcing you to improve.
You Grow Braver: Facing failure head-on reduces its power to intimidate you.
Failure isn’t a dead end; it’s a detour. And sometimes, those detours lead to the most unexpected and rewarding places.
How to Wing It
Here’s how to embrace failure and turn it into your greatest asset:
Change the Narrative: Instead of saying, “I failed,” say, “I learned.”
Take Ownership: Acknowledge what went wrong, but don’t dwell on it. Focus on what you can do differently next time.
Celebrate Your Effort: Trying and failing is better than not trying at all. Celebrate the courage it took to step outside your comfort zone.
Final Thoughts
Failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s part of the journey. The sooner you embrace it, the sooner you’ll unlock its lessons and opportunities.
So, fail boldly, fail often, and remember: every failure brings you one step closer to becoming the person you’re meant to be.
Bridging Worlds
If you want to see me wing it, I do a podcast with cool people. You should subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
This week’s podcast might hit you right in the heart:
I had a truly moving conversation with Florian Kurz – someone who used to certify buildings for sustainability and now helps people lead from a much deeper place: themselves.
He used to work in a world of numbers, pressure, and checklists – until something in him said: “Stop.” What followed was a long, honest journey through burnout, emotion, self-discovery… and eventually, the founding of his own institute for sustainable leadership.
One sentence he said really stuck with me:
“I don’t want to reach the end of my life and say: I was always tidy and efficient – like an Excel sheet.” - Oof. That hit.
In this episode, we talk about why so many of us disconnect from what we truly feel, how we can reconnect with our own strengths, and what it means to actually live – not just function.
Honestly, this talk stayed with me long after we hit stop. Maybe it will do the same for you.
Tune in to the episode with Florian – Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
It’s a deep one.
Keep winging it,
Tim
