EP 29 Why Failing Is the Secret Ingredient to Winning Big

In this episode of Management Muse, hosts Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin explore the value of failure with academic and author Spencer Fraseur. Spencer shares insights from his book Failing Upward and his dissertation research, emphasizing how failure is a crucial part of success and the significance of resilience, passion, and continuous learning. He offers actionable strategies for reframing failure as an iterative process, much like engineers approach problem-solving. Whether you're navigating setbacks in work or life, this episode provides tools for using failure as a stepping stone to growth and innovation.

Tune in for actionable strategies on how to embrace failure, pivot with purpose, and ultimately find success through perseverance and self-awareness.

 

Episode Highlights: 

• Learn how failure is a stepping stone to success rather than a stopping point.
• Discover how personal failures can lead to significant growth and new opportunities.
• Understand why success often requires learning through multiple failures.
• Explore when quitting may be the right choice based on passion and adaptability.
• See how career pivots can be guided by valuable lessons learned from setbacks.
• Find out why having a "sparring partner" for constructive feedback is essential for progress.
• Learn the importance of documenting failures to avoid repetition and uncover unexpected opportunities.

 

Spencer Fraseur is an academic and author of Failing Upward, a book that challenges the traditional views of failure and offers a new framework for embracing it as part of the journey toward success. Spencer is currently preparing to defend his dissertation at the University of Texas at Arlington, where he continues to explore themes of resilience, learning, and personal development. His passion for teaching and helping others reframe their setbacks into opportunities makes him a sought-after speaker and mentor. His first book, The Irrational Mind, won the Royal Dragonfly Book Award in 2020.

 

Order Spencer's Books: https://www.amazon.com/Spencer-Fraseur/e/B08BKSFTFX

Connect with Spencer:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerfraseur

 

Resources Mentioned: 

• Fraseur, S. (2023). Failing upward: The secret ingredient to success. Great Failure Press.
• Mark Rober's quote: "Failure is not a bug; it’s a feature."
• Dweck, C. S., & Molden, D. C. (2005). Self-theories: Their impact on competence motivation and acquisition. In A. Elliot & C. Dweck (Eds.), Handbook of competence and motivation (pp. 122-140). The Guilford Press.