Fail Fast, Fail Often summary

Of course, we all want to have more fun. But how does fun lead to success?

For starters, seeking out activities that we feel we will enjoy can open up new opportunities.

So, now we know that having more fun in life usually leads to success. However, there is one exception to that statement: failing. Most people don’t enjoy failure and try to avoid it, but, we should actually encourage it. Why?

Trial and error, and the failed attempts that inevitably result, often lead to swift improvements in your skills.  

Have you ever felt anxious about starting a new hobby like pick-up basketball or playing an instrument? Often, the reason we’re afraid of starting something new is that being a beginner necessarily involves being bad at something compared to more experienced people, and we don’t want to look bad.

That mindset is extremely limiting. To turn it upside down, remember:

Children are innately curious and as a result often bombard adults with questions like “Why is the sky blue?” “Why are polar bears white?” and “Why don’t we float into space?” This innocent curiosity leads to constant new discoveries that expand their understanding of the universe.

Unfortunately, traditional schooling dims our naturally inquisitive disposition: we learn to only study correct answers to questions, not ask new ones.

While it’s important to strive for big dreams like starting your own business, it’s crucial to think big and act small.

What does this mean?

Would you get married to someone with whom you’d never been on a date? Probably not. The same goes for your career.

Many people actually follow a prescribed career path they decided upon without trying it out first, and remain in jobs they hate against their better judgment.

Did you know that the people with whom you surround yourself have a huge influence on your behavior? For example, if you have a friend who smokes a lot, you’re more likely to pick up smoking.

That associative effect is why you should cultivate an encouraging, supportive community. A strong, supportive community was behind Steve Jobs’ success.

The key message in this book:

No one likes to fail. But fear of failure can hold us back from amazing opportunities. Taking risks and learning from the inevitable failures along the way allows us to live much more rewarding lives.