Show your failures

The dark days, focusing on the work and the impermanence of success
Aug 20, 2022
Copy Share Link
image

Show your failures:

Show your failures.

Show your work.

Show the process.

For most of us, we only see the successes.

We only see people be successful in what they’re doing. 

But we rarely see the failures.

We rarely see the dark times.


The days when everything is going wrong.

We don’t see the stress.

We don’t see the work.

We don’t see the process.

Why?

Because success sells.

Success is intoxicating.

Success makes you believe in the impossible.

When someone does something that was thought to be impossible, it’s shocking.


It shakes you to your core.

How can this person achieve all this success?

How can they be doing all of this?

Here’s the secret - they’re not.

They’re pretending like we all are.

They’ve just been working at it longer.

They’ve been consistent.

They show up again and again, no matter the outcome.

They’re trying.

They’re showing the world that failures are part of the process.

For centuries, man knew those who were successful when they attained their success.

But they didn’t see the process.

They didn’t see the grind.

They saw the outcome, not the work.

That’s not good.

People now believe success can come tomorrow.

Like you wake up one day and all of a sudden success comes to you.


It doesn’t work like that.

It’s a grind.

It’s fucking hard.

Really fucking hard.

Success doesn’t come to those who wait.

It comes to those who try.

Those who show up again and again.

On a long enough time scale, those guys win.

Every time.

They understand it’s about the process.

It’s about the work.


It’s about showing up.

Nothing else.

The outcomes don’t matter.

They make people feel important for their work.

But at the end of the day, it’s about the work.


It’s about showing up.

For all the artists, creators, rappers and musicians - it’s about the work.

It’s about committing to producing work, no matter how good or bad people think it is.

What people fail to realize as you get more successful, the world will take you away from the work.

It’ll pull you into the lull of celebrity and fame.

That’s all well and dandy until it’s not.

Remember, success is impermanent. 

Success comes and goes.

One day you’re on top of the world, the next you’re not.

Regardless, forget about the outcomes.

Focus on the work.

Focus on producing more failures.

Show your failures.

'Keep Going You're Doing Great'

Related Posts

Personal Writings

Be the audience to your own show

Imagining your the audience to your own show, taking accountability and winning an Oscar to your life

July 13, 2022
Personal Writings

Welcome to the jungle

How America has become a lawless jungle

November 14, 2025
Personal Writings

Keep putting your art out there

Creating stuff you enjoy, Lizzo and staying consistent

January 23, 2023
Personal Writings

You need inspiration

Week 17/31: Lessons from my inspirations, Liverpool's title race and reflections from week 16

April 27, 2025
Personal Writings

Solve the mundane

Sock drawers, focusing on what's in front of you and healthy habits

August 20, 2022
Personal Writings

Commit

Week 24/31: Committing to something and reflections from week 23

June 16, 2025