Learning from my Failure: How to Move On After a Business Flop

If you want to succeed in business, there’s one truth you must make peace with this: Be okay with being a beginner and get ready to try, even if it means failing. And guess what? You will fail, a lot. What people often forget is that hard work is what leads to success. 

First, I want to say that I wouldn’t be here today with clarity—possibly for the first time ever. Yes, I’ve lost time, money, and energy, but the skills and strength I’ve gained are priceless.

So, why do so many people hold back from starting their own journeys? A lot of it is because they don’t know where to begin. Trust me, I’ve been there, stuck in confusion longer than I’d like to admit. But here’s the deal: you have to be ready to try, even if it means failing. And guess what? You will fail—often. The big takeaway? If you don’t quit you’ll eventually win.

Why am I sharing this? So you can avoid some of those bumps in the road.

Be okay with being a beginner and get ready to try, even if it means failing.

Failing Forward: Turning Setbacks into Growth

Take e-commerce, for example. It sounded amazing, but it quickly turned into a big investment. I found myself juggling suppliers and managing physical products and shipping—way more than I expected. Did I love the hustle? Yes! But it wasn’t the dream I had in mind. And that’s okay! Life has a funny way of guiding us to new paths.

What I really wanted was to:

• Work on my own terms instead of being glued to my phone.
• Spend evenings with my kids instead of stressing over shipping.
• Create and write from my laptop instead of running all over town.
• Start an online business without diving into risky ventures.

You see where I’m going?

While my vision stayed the same, I figured out smarter ways to get there. After a lot of trial and error, I discovered digital products. I started to write and create whenever the inspiration hit. Even if the project I was working on wasn’t my ultimate goal, creating felt liberating. I had time for my health, family, and the freedom to plan my days.

Let me tell you about the thrill of making that first sale—it’s a rush like no other! If you’ve done it, you know what I mean. That first dollar is huge because once you make $10, you can make $100, then $1,000. The only limits are your beliefs and how much effort you put in. Trust me, success is possible.

Oh, and did I mention I once tried making workout videos? I still love fitness, but I learned that sharing every workout wasn’t the best business move.

It’s totally fine to keep your hobbies separate from your income. When you focus on what you’re really good at, you stand out. This mindset helped me put my energy into my main business while still enjoying my fitness journey without the pressure to make money from it. Sometimes it’s about finding that balance and knowing where your strengths lie.

So, what did work for me?

Keeping it simple!

I focused on my passion for writing and creating, used easy tools, and found a way to make money without all the stress. This approach made the journey enjoyable.

Here’s the unexpected twist: while I was busy building my e-commerce business, I casually made a Pinterest account. I had no idea people were turning Pinterest into a way to make money. I was just using it for inspiration and recipes. To my surprise, a few of my posts went viral.

Why not combine my interests and skills to build on this platform? Now, I love creating images and text for Pinterest while using blogging as my outlet for writing. With over 537 million monthly active users, it’s clear this platform offers a great chance for building a business.

If you’re thinking about starting a blog and exploring Pinterest, check out Bluehost for affordable and easy hosting. They make the setup so simple, and I’m not tech savy at all! Plus, if you want to streamline your Pinterest game, Tailwind is a great tool. It helps you schedule posts and track how they’re doing, so you can focus more on creating and less on the details.

Conclusion: Embracing Your Unique Path

I’ve always felt a bit different with so many passions I wanted to explore.

You’ll never know what’s possible without taking that first step. So take advantage of what makes you unique, dive into your passions and skills, and remember: the journey starts with one tiny action.

One big takeaway? If you have an idea, start testing it! Share it with someone you trust or just take action to see where it leads—before making big investments.

Don’t let fear hold you back; your next opportunity could be just around the corner!