The Art of Failing Forward
- Catherine Addor
- Oct 10
- 3 min read
Fundamental Friday: Learning How to Fail
Failure. For many of us, that word still carries weight; red ink on a paper, a closed door, a feeling of shame. When we pause to look deeper, we realize that failure isn’t the opposite of success. It’s the pathway to it.
Take Thomas Edison’s invention of the lightbulb. It’s often said he “failed” over 1,000 times before creating a version that worked. When asked about those failed attempts, Edison is said to have replied, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 1,000 ways that won’t work.” This mindset reframes each setback as valuable data. Without those so-called failures, there would be no lightbulb.
This isn’t just Edison’s story; it’s the story of all science. Every experiment is designed to test a hypothesis, and most of the time, the results disprove the original idea. Scientists don’t call these failures; they call them findings. Each misstep pushes knowledge forward. Each “failed” trial builds the foundation for the next breakthrough.
Failing Forward in Education
What if schools adopted the same mindset? Progressive grading and assessment policies lean in that direction. Instead of stamping a grade as a final judgment, they focus on evidence of learning over time. Mistakes become part of the learning cycle, not the end of it.
Students begin to see challenges as opportunities to deepen understanding. A wrong answer isn’t the end; it’s the first clue toward getting it right. This builds resilience, encourages risk-taking, and models the reality of how learning (and life) really works.
Reflection Questions
Use these questions to start conversations with yourself, your team, or your students:
What did this mistake teach me that I didn’t know before?
How does this “failure” prepare me for a future success?
What story do I tell myself about failing? How can I rewrite it?
Who do I admire who has moved forward despite failure, and what can I learn from them?
Actionable Steps to Reframe Failure
Once we begin to view mistakes as findings, the next step is to build daily habits that help us reframe them.
Rename It: Instead of “failure,” call it a “first attempt” or “evidence point.” Language shifts mindset.
Mine the Data: After every setback, ask “What worked? What didn’t? What’s next?” Treat mistakes as information, not indictment.
Track Growth Over Time: Keep a visible log of progress. Show that today’s improvement came from yesterday’s stumble.
Celebrate Courage: Acknowledge the bravery it takes to try again. Highlight persistence, not perfection.
Model Transparency: Share your own failures and how you learned from them. When leaders are open about missteps, others feel safe to grow.
Failure is not a stopping point; it’s a stepping stone. Every missed attempt is a lesson. Every “no” brings you closer to “yes.” Like Edison, like every scientist, like every learner, we succeed because we fail forward.
Our children need this mindset even more than we do. They are conditioned to see failure as permanent, or worse, as a reflection of who they are rather than what they tried. By resetting the way we frame mistakes, we can help them grow into lifelong learners who see setbacks as signals, not scars.
Imagine a generation of students who approach challenges by saying, “This is just one of my findings. Now I know what doesn’t work, let’s see what does.” That shift turns pressure into possibility. It fosters curiosity, grit, and confidence. It teaches them that learning is never about perfection; it’s about progress.
If we can raise children who embrace their findings instead of fearing their failures, then we prepare them for life. Life, at its core, is a series of experiments, and the most important result is the courage to keep learning.
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