Failure? No, Just a Trial

Last week, I shared a blog content that I wrote about a book that I enjoyed reading. The book was Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara , which is a great book that every business people can find things to apply in their business life... I wanted to share my own thoughts and learnings on this book's key messages. 

However, I noticed that the content I shared got very little attention. It had much fewer views, likes and comments than my previous blog content although I spent so many times to create images from Canva with quotes from the book to make it much more attractive to the reader. 

This pushed me to lose my motivation for writing the next one this week. But this morning, I saw a tweet from Noah Kagan, whose book (Milllion Dollar Weekend) I am currently reading. He shared these data in twitter (so-called X) and reminded me what I should focus on. 

• Drake: 133 songs, 38 hits (28%) 

• Beyonce: 89 songs, 22 hits (24%) 

• Red Hot Chili Peppers: 265 songs, 13 hits (4.9%)

 +70% of their output is NOT popular.

Meanwhile, you write 1 blog post and give up immediately… 

How to overcome the fear of failure and keep creating

We all have dreams and goals that we want to achieve in our personal and professional lives. We want to write a best-selling book, launch a successful product, grow our business, or make a positive impact on the world. 

But sometimes, we face obstacles and challenges that make us doubt ourselves and our abilities. We fear that we are not good enough, that we will fail, that we will be rejected, or that we will waste our time and resources.

We compare ourselves to others who seem to have it all figured out, who have millions of followers, fans, and customers, who produce hit after hit, and who receive praise and recognition for their work.

We forget that behind every success story, there are countless trials and errors, rejections and criticisms, struggles and failures. We forget that success is not a one-time event, but a process of learning, experimenting, and improving. 

We forget that failure is not the opposite of success, but a part of it.

That’s why I was inspired by this tweet from Noah Kagan, the founder of AppSumo and a successful entrepreneur. He shared some interesting data about the hit rates of some famous artists:

 

This tweet made me realize that even the most talented and successful people in the world do not have a 100% success rate. They have to create a lot of content, products, or services before they find the ones that resonate with their audience, that solve a problem, or that make a difference.

They have to face a lot of failure, rejection, and criticism before they achieve their goals and dreams.

They have to overcome their fear of failure and keep creating.

And so do we.

If we want to succeed, we have to embrace failure as a part of our journey. We have to see it as an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to improve. We have to use it as feedback, not as a judgment.

We have to stop comparing ourselves to others, and start focusing on our own progress and potential. We have to celebrate our small wins, and appreciate our efforts and achievements. 

We have to keep creating, keep sharing, and keep adding value to the world.

Because the only way to fail is to stop trying.

So, what are you waiting for? Write that blog post, launch that product, grow that business, or make that impact. 

And don’t let failure stop you. Let it motivate you!

Sabırla Yola Devam...

Yeniden umut etmek için o gücü içinde bulmak zor geliyor bazen… Zorlandım, kabul etmekte, içime sindirmekte, ama mevcut durumu ancak kendimin değiştirebileceğini de bildiğim için o ‘kafa’dan çıkardım kendimi.

Kalkıp yerimden, rutinimden çıkıp tekrar mücadeleye kaldığım yerden ancak bu kez farklı bir şeyler deneyerek bir daha başladım. “Vazgeçtim” demeden inatla devam ediyorum, edeceğim. Kimseyle kıyaslamadan kendi yolumdan, kendimden de ödün vermeden olacağını göstereceğim. En temel hedefim bu, biliyorum ki tüm diğer hedeflerin bunun ancak alt başlıkları olur.

Sabırla yola devam…

Celebrating a Decade at Philip Morris International: Reflections and Gratitude

Exactly 10 years ago on Thursday, August 1, 2013, my journey with Philip Morris International (PMI) began. When I stepped through the factory's doors, it was called Philsa Philip Morris Sabancı Sigara ve Tütüncülük A.Ş. at that time, and my title was General Ledger and Tax Analyst. Even before joining PMI, while working at Opel Turkey (officially called General Motors Türkiye Ltd. Şti.), our factory's neighbor, I always had my mind set on working here, thinking, 'One day, I will work at Philip Morris.' Prior to that, I spent three years at PwC and GM, but my thoughts were always on Philip Morris. When I saw the job posting for the position I eventually started, I felt like the job description perfectly fit me, and that awaited 'one day' was drawing near. The interview process, which started in May 2013, my wife's pregnancy, the days of that summer when we thought about the blessing that the baby would bring, and the anticipation of my first day at work after eagerly waiting for the end of my notice period at GM, all led me to that moment. On that first day, I met new colleagues, experienced working in a production company, and got answers to many things I had wondered about, such as the famous Philip Morris meals. Time flies and today marks exactly 10 years since that day.

There were days when I celebrated with clenched fists as if I had won a championship and days when I couldn't resist but cry. I met people here whom I loved and trusted, as well as colleagues whose paths I wish had never crossed. I dreamed, achieved some of those dreams, and continue to strive and work hard to reach others. Whether they will be granted or not, I cannot know, but I am doing my best and will continue to do so to avoid saying 'I didn't try' when my story at this place comes to an end. When I took that first step ten years ago, perhaps I imagined different things for today, but I know how to be grateful and keep going.

Looking back, I see that I made one of the most important decisions in my life during my Philip Morris journey. In the year 2020, when the pandemic entered our lives, while working as a Senior Tax Analyst, almost every morning, new tax regulations were published in the Official Gazette, and during that time, an opportunity emerged at our Duty-Free affiliate for a position with the title 'Manager,' which I had desired to reach for so long. In those days when remote work was not a common practice as it is today, the fact that this position was in Istanbul made me face a tough decision: either accept and move to Istanbul or reject it and stay in Izmir, wait for another opportunity. When I made the decision that I now say 'Thank goodness' for, I had my wife's support, but I had to separate her from Izmir, a city she loved dearly. Thankfully, Istanbul has always been kind to us. We made one of the most significant changes in our lives with PMI. Building a list of beloved people in Istanbul has been one of the greatest gains.

As I celebrate 10 years at Philip Morris International, I'm filled with gratitude for the opportunities, connections, and growth it has brought into my life. This journey has been a testament to the power of dreams, resilience, and embracing change. I am eager to continue my career journey with enthusiasm, determination, and an open heart. Here's to the next chapter and the endless possibilities that lie ahead. Let's keep moving forward together.