You know, “There is no innovation and creativity without failure” is one of those rare quotes that’s both brutally honest and incredibly freeing. It’s a simple, non-negotiable truth about how real growth actually happens.
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Meaning
At its core, this quote is a direct challenge to the myth of the flawless, first-try genius. It posits that failure isn’t just a possible side effect of trying new things; it’s an absolute prerequisite for any meaningful creative or innovative breakthrough.
Explanation
Look, I’ve seen this play out so many times. We have this romantic idea that a brilliant idea just pops into someone’s head fully formed. But the reality is so much messier, and honestly, more beautiful. True innovation is a process of experimentation. You try something. It fails. You learn *why* it failed. That new knowledge informs your next attempt. That cycle—try, fail, learn, repeat—*that’s* the engine of creativity. Without the failure part, you’re just spinning your wheels. You’re not gathering the crucial data that only comes from things not working out as planned. The “Period.” at the end is Brown’s way of saying this isn’t up for debate. It’s a law of nature, like gravity.
Quote Summary
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Origin & Factcheck
This powerful statement comes straight from Brené Brown’s 2015 book, Rising Strong. It’s a key theme in her research on vulnerability, courage, and resilience. You might sometimes see similar sentiments misattributed to figures like Steve Jobs or Thomas Edison, and while they certainly embodied the principle, this specific, definitive phrasing is all Brené.
Attribution Summary
Author Bio
Dr Brene Brown is the author of books such as Daring Greatly and The Power of Vulnerability. The TED talk and Netflix production based on her research reached out to millions of audience. She researches effects of courage and vulnerability in shaping people's work and relationships. She leads the Brené Brown Education and Research Group and provides evidence-based insights into practical tools to help people train themselves
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Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | There is no innovation and creativity without failure. Period |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2015; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 9780812995824; Last edition. Number of pages: 336. |
| Where is it? | Approximate page, The Revolution section |
Context
In Rising Strong, Brown isn’t just talking about business innovation. She’s framing this within the context of our personal lives—our relationships, our careers, our own personal growth. The “falling down” she refers to is any kind of struggle or setback, and the “rising strong” is the process of learning from it to write a new, more courageous ending to our story. This quote is the bedrock of that entire philosophy.
Usage Examples
This is one of those quotes you can pull out in so many situations. Here’s how I’ve used it:
- With a frustrated team: When a project hits a wall, I’ll say, “Remember, ‘no innovation without failure.’ This isn’t a setback, it’s a data point. What is this telling us?” It reframes the entire situation from a problem to a part of the process.
- Mentoring a junior employee: If they’re scared to present a “half-baked” idea, I use this to give them permission to be imperfect. It takes the pressure off and encourages them to think more boldly.
- For myself, personally: Seriously, when I’m hesitant to try something new because I might look foolish, this quote pops into my head. It’s a personal mantra for taking creative risks.
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FAQ
Question: Does this mean all failure leads to innovation?
Answer: Great question. No, not automatically. The failure itself is just the raw material. The innovation comes from the *learning* and the *iteration* that happens *after* the failure. It’s the active process of rising strong that makes the difference.
Question: How is this different from just “learning from your mistakes”?
Answer: It’s a more proactive, embedded philosophy. “Learning from mistakes” is often reactive. Brown’s quote is about *expecting and accepting* failure as a necessary, non-negotiable part of the creative journey from the very start. It changes your relationship with risk.
Question: Isn’t this risky for a business? Shouldn’t we try to avoid failure?
Answer: You avoid the *catastrophic* failures by having lots of small, smart, contained failures early on. Trying to avoid failure altogether is the riskiest move of all because it leads to stagnation and being left behind. It’s about failing fast, cheap, and learning quickly.
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