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Finding Success in Failure: True Confessions from 10 Years of Startup Mistakes
How to launch a successful startup without embarrassing mistakes.
What if you could learn more from my failures than from all of Elon Musk's successes combined? Imagine if you could spare yourself years of heartache and self-loathing pounding your head against mistakes I've already made for you.
Amazon best-selling author Lucas Carlson presents an entrepreneurship book unlike any other out there. Most startup books focus on the successes of famous founders, but that success is riddled with egomaniacs and survivorship bias. For every one Steve Jobs, there were thousands of geeks just like him who did everything the same as Steve Jobs but never started Apple. So, following in Steve Jobs' footsteps might never again lead to success.
For that reason, Nassim Taleb and many others say that learning from mistakes is more robust than learning from successes, because almost everyone makes the same mistakes. The problem is most people aren't willing to be open, honest, and totally candid about their mistakes.
In this audiobook, you'll
How to use Bayesian statistics to pick startup ideas The startup killing problem with most mission statements Seven things most founders wish someone had told them at the start How to manage the difficult conversations How to make a marriage survive a startup How to think through splitting up equity in a company How to manage founder psychology (some reviewers say this is the most important chapter in the book) A philosophy of entrepreneurship that can add depth and meaning to your work Listen to this audiobook to find out how to start a business and not make the most egregious errors that plague most founders.
Pick up your copy today!
What if you could learn more from my failures than from all of Elon Musk's successes combined? Imagine if you could spare yourself years of heartache and self-loathing pounding your head against mistakes I've already made for you.
Amazon best-selling author Lucas Carlson presents an entrepreneurship book unlike any other out there. Most startup books focus on the successes of famous founders, but that success is riddled with egomaniacs and survivorship bias. For every one Steve Jobs, there were thousands of geeks just like him who did everything the same as Steve Jobs but never started Apple. So, following in Steve Jobs' footsteps might never again lead to success.
For that reason, Nassim Taleb and many others say that learning from mistakes is more robust than learning from successes, because almost everyone makes the same mistakes. The problem is most people aren't willing to be open, honest, and totally candid about their mistakes.
In this audiobook, you'll
How to use Bayesian statistics to pick startup ideas The startup killing problem with most mission statements Seven things most founders wish someone had told them at the start How to manage the difficult conversations How to make a marriage survive a startup How to think through splitting up equity in a company How to manage founder psychology (some reviewers say this is the most important chapter in the book) A philosophy of entrepreneurship that can add depth and meaning to your work Listen to this audiobook to find out how to start a business and not make the most egregious errors that plague most founders.
Pick up your copy today!
Audible Audio
First published March 3, 2015
17 people are currently reading
721 people want to read
About the author
Lucas Carlson
14 books161 followersLucas Carlson is a bestselling novelist. He takes his first-hand experiences as an entrepreneur and computer programmer, and turns them into thrillers that pack a punch and are hard to put down.
His writing has often been compared to Michael Crichton, Joseph Finder, Harlan Coben and Blake Crouch. They deal with technology and business themes and how they affect society.
Carlson lives in San Diego with his family.
His writing has often been compared to Michael Crichton, Joseph Finder, Harlan Coben and Blake Crouch. They deal with technology and business themes and how they affect society.
Carlson lives in San Diego with his family.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 31, 2015
This book is great read for anyone looking to start something, and even more so for those who've started and run into their own fair share of challenges. It's a valuable combination of not just practical business advice but of emotional intelligence, which is lacking when it comes to information about starting up and the many challenges that inevitably lay ahead.
Lucas says it best...
"Your startup is going to feel like the only thing you should pay attention to, at the expense of yourself and personal relationships. That’s normal, but it doesn’t make it right."
"Take good care of yourself if you want to give your company its best chance at success."
I love that Lucas focuses on getting you the knowledge you really need, not the trendy get rich quick ideas that many people get sucked into when trying to start something.
One of my favorite quotes underscores the overall topic and value of the book...
"...expecting to find success without failure is like expecting to look like a bodybuilder after one day at the gym."
It's reframing failure like this as a learning and growing experience, that Lucas is talking about. That's why he's sharing what he's learned through his own successes and failures in the book..
Lucas goes on to say...
"You will face a lot of rejection, especially in the early stages, but you can build resilience against failure. The efforts you make to frame your psychology for success in a leadership role will benefit you and your company over the long term."
I think you'll find that this book will help you do just that!
Lucas says it best...
"Your startup is going to feel like the only thing you should pay attention to, at the expense of yourself and personal relationships. That’s normal, but it doesn’t make it right."
"Take good care of yourself if you want to give your company its best chance at success."
I love that Lucas focuses on getting you the knowledge you really need, not the trendy get rich quick ideas that many people get sucked into when trying to start something.
One of my favorite quotes underscores the overall topic and value of the book...
"...expecting to find success without failure is like expecting to look like a bodybuilder after one day at the gym."
It's reframing failure like this as a learning and growing experience, that Lucas is talking about. That's why he's sharing what he's learned through his own successes and failures in the book..
Lucas goes on to say...
"You will face a lot of rejection, especially in the early stages, but you can build resilience against failure. The efforts you make to frame your psychology for success in a leadership role will benefit you and your company over the long term."
I think you'll find that this book will help you do just that!
March 3, 2015
Entrepreneurship sucks. No matter how much we mythologize storied founders like Steve Jobs, the day-to-day reality of building a business is a grueling exercise in trench warfare. The best founders are so relentless and resourceful that their success is inevitable. Lucas Carlson is one of those founders. And Finding Success in Failure is the kind of book that inspires through it's honesty about the process of entrepreneurship. Don't read this book if you want an a checklist or a cute poster with an inspirational quote. Read this book if you want a view inside the head and heart of an entrepreneur doing the real thing. Check your rose tinted glasses at the door and get ready for a roller coaster ride business tell-all.
March 6, 2015
Carlson writes with the tone of an older brother: approachable yet authoritative; familiar yet knowledgable; compassionate yet firm. He has boiled down the most bitter learning he has garnered into a palatable and immensely useful guide as you venture into the realm of entrepreneurship. This book is distinct from other business "how-to" books in that it delves into your root motivations and how that applies to your concept, burgeoning or established business. He also tells you how best to prevent setbacks, sail through challenges, and as his title suggests, converting failures into successes. I already feel more prepared for my own venture as I approach the starting gate. Carlson’s lessons are universal, and I recommend this book to anyone exploring their own business.
October 8, 2015
Prior to reading the book, my expectations were that this book would cover case studies and examples of failures, and not just high-level principles. To me, this was a self-help book, which was not what I was looking for.
I did find the "Rejection Therapy" - where you purposely try go through rejections to overcome fear of rejection pretty interesting. I am going to incorporate it as a practice and see how it goes.
Besides that, the chapter discussing the Logistics of Building a Startup was the most useful insight I took away from this book.
I did find the "Rejection Therapy" - where you purposely try go through rejections to overcome fear of rejection pretty interesting. I am going to incorporate it as a practice and see how it goes.
Besides that, the chapter discussing the Logistics of Building a Startup was the most useful insight I took away from this book.
May 14, 2016
Entrepreneurship 101
Great book.. If you want to learn Bout the life of an entrepreneur, it's struggles and problems, along with all the good things this is a good book to start with.
If you are a seasoned entrepreneur you might find it logical, even dull, but you most likely will find value in it either way.
If you are just in for the ride, you will learn too, the tricks applied for a business are usually applicable for life too.
Good job Lucas.
Great book.. If you want to learn Bout the life of an entrepreneur, it's struggles and problems, along with all the good things this is a good book to start with.
If you are a seasoned entrepreneur you might find it logical, even dull, but you most likely will find value in it either way.
If you are just in for the ride, you will learn too, the tricks applied for a business are usually applicable for life too.
Good job Lucas.
April 8, 2015
I received a free copy of this book from the Goodreads First Reads program in exchange for an honest review. For anyone looking to start their own business, Finding Success in Failure offers great information and advice to avoid many of the pitfalls of startups. Would recommend.
June 7, 2015
Another one of those basic books you should read carefully and internalize if you're thinking of creating a startup.
January 12, 2018
Try try try
Such a good little book. If you've failed all the better you'll like this book. Life is a journey and business is a mountain to tackle this book is a guide. Try the book and life today.
Such a good little book. If you've failed all the better you'll like this book. Life is a journey and business is a mountain to tackle this book is a guide. Try the book and life today.
March 31, 2018
My 2 startups have already failed. Now, I realized that I must have read this before starting them so I thought of understanding why startups fail usually. I recommend this to all the people who are looking to become great entrepreneurs
July 4, 2016
Seem to be solid book. I haven't attempted to do a startup yet, so I can't say how effective his tips are. My only gripe is his examples are vague, he doesn't really go into much details of his failures so you don't understand the pain involved. Much of the times he will say, I suggest doing x, because I didn't and it caused me a lot of pain. Why did it cause problems, tell me the story and then I can really understand the pitfalls. I can understand the author's reluctance because it makes you vulnerable, but the title of the book suggests that he is going to do just that.
June 26, 2016
Good if new to entrepreneurship
This book is great if you are about to make the entrepreneur plunge. I really liked the advice re writing. It's something I need need to get back to. Good reminder.
This book is great if you are about to make the entrepreneur plunge. I really liked the advice re writing. It's something I need need to get back to. Good reminder.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews