In this episode, I dig into one of my favorite topics: failure.

Not in a gloomy way, but in the way that actually helps you grow. I talk about why messing up is the secret ingredient to leveling up, and why the photographers you admire have racked up more losses than you’d ever guess.

I open with the quote that kicked this whole episode off: “The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.” That one line says everything. Most people never start something new because they’re terrified of failing or looking bad. But the truth is, every misstep is a lesson. I don’t even like the word failure. I prefer lessons. They’re the stepping stones that carry you from where you are to where you want to be.

Throughout the episode, I talk about how powerful a growth mindset is and how it can turn every setback into something useful. I bring in a few sports legends to back it up too. Tom Brady played 23 seasons and 'only' won the Super Bowl 7 times. Michael Jordan missed thousands of shots. Don’t let the fear of striking out stop you from stepping up to the plate.

I share some personal stories as well, and remind you that if I can come back from the lowest points of my life and still build something I’m proud of, then you can too. Other people’s mistakes can be your shortcut. Being a beginner can be your superpower. Keep experimenting. Keep creating. Keep trying.

I wrap up the episode with this reminder: every photographer you look up to has failed more times than you can imagine. That’s exactly how they grew. So keep showing up. Keep learning. And remember, success is built on a whole stack of so called failures.

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