On Dec. 12, entrepreneurs and business leaders came together for FailedFest, an event created by Lindsey Ivie, John Ivie and Sam Salisbury and dedicated to normalizing and learning from failures in our business community. Representatives and founders from large and small companies, local and international, gathered to share their experiences. While there was a lighthearted, almost humorous atmosphere, there was also a solemnity to the day — as if all the voices at the event were collectively saying, “Learn from me; don’t make the same mistakes I did. Be better than I am. Make your dreams a reality.”
In our society, we tend to shun failure. People do everything they can to avoid failing or to prevent others from learning about any failures that occur. What we often forget is that failure is one of the most effective teachers. Whether the failure is our own or someone else’s, we can use those experiences to inform decision-making and guide our focus to skills or tools that will help us succeed.
FailedFest was an incredible opportunity for Utah business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to learn from those who have gone before them. Among all the stories that were shared and advice given from lessons learned, three themes emerged and left an impact on those who attended.
1. Retest, recheck and rethink
FailedFest showed that it always helps to check twice when it comes to accuracy and strategy. Does that big campaign you’re planning target the correct audience? Does your product and packaging meet all requirements? Kara Atkisson Koo of Mixhers highlighted how smaller test campaigns could have helped the company avoid the costly mistake of targeting a mismatched audience. Sterling Jones from JOJO’s Chocolate shared how a 15,000-package shipment to Costco almost went out without expiration labels. Stories shared emphasized that if they had double-checked requirements, spelling or goals, they would have invested more wisely, avoided missteps and maximized growth opportunities.
2. Opportunity comes when failure meets resilience
Many speakers shared stories of setbacks, which later became stepping stones, highlighting that mistakes and failures can often bring new opportunities if we stick with them. Curtis Morley, a successful entrepreneur, recounted how he reframed a harrowing professional betrayal and a bee sting at one of his darkest times to fuel success and ignite a new chapter in his career as a speaker and author.
Sterling Jones’ story from above required manually stamping 15,000 bags, but his resilience and determination led him from that mistake to growing his company to $60 million in revenue. Their journeys highlight that resilience can turn even the harshest failures into opportunities for growth.
3. Build a village, because you won’t succeed alone
One of the most significant messages shared was learning when to lean on others and to find the right people to support you. Many speakers expressed that they tried to be perfect in every aspect of their business to save money or keep control. However, they eventually realized that adding someone to the team didn’t diminish their role; it strengthened the collective effort.
One creator admitted their biggest crash came from not trusting others and being unwilling to delegate. Thread’s McKenzie Bauer reframed imposter syndrome as a sense of insufficiency and argued that recognizing gaps in your abilities is vital because it introduces an opportunity for you to bring in complementary skills. Success often requires a village, so foster people both within and outside work who can provide advice, support and expertise in areas you might need help with.
FailedFest vividly reminded us that failure is a universal experience, even for the most accomplished entrepreneurs. Business leaders can turn failures into their most significant assets by always reexamining work, embracing setbacks as learning opportunities, and leaning on others for help. After all, failure is not the opposite of success; it’s a critical part of the journey to success.
If you’re an entrepreneur looking for resources to help your business succeed, head to startup.utah.gov.