The F*ck Ups That Actually Make You Great

For a long time, I hated the word failure.

It felt like a brand.

A scarlet letter.

Proof I wasn’t good enough, smart enough, fast enough.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

Failure only hurts when you believe it’s the end.

When you realize it’s a beginning, the sting fades fast.

Rethink the Narrative

We treat failure like a death sentence.

But what if it’s just a data point?

What if it’s not a reason to quit but a sign you’re stretching?

Growth doesn’t happen when things go well.

It happens when you fall flat on your face and decide to get up anyway.

Every person you admire has walked that exact path:

• Jordan got cut from his high school team.

• Elon watched three rockets explode before SpaceX finally worked.

• Jack Ma didn’t get hired at KFC.

These aren’t side stories.

They are the stories.

Save This Thought:

The highlight reel you admire?

It's the final 2%.

The other 98% is made of breakdowns, rejections, and trying again when no one’s watching.

The Truth No One Tells You

Success isn’t linear.

And it’s definitely not clean.

Behind every “overnight win” is a mess of:

• Wrong calls

• Bad launches

• Sleepless nights

• Internal breakdowns

• Deep self-doubt

But those moments? They shape you.

They carve you.

So if you’re in that part of the story right now — good.

You're in the part that actually builds character.

A Mental Reframe

Failure isn’t a red flag.

It’s a green light.

It means you're doing something new.

Something you care about.

Something worth screwing up.

If you weren’t failing, you’re either playing it safe or playing too small.

So here’s your reminder.

Pick up the brush.

Make bold strokes.

F*ck up.

Try again.

That’s how greatness is made.

Let the world see your rough drafts.

Because when the masterpiece comes — you’ll know exactly what it cost.

If you would like to connect on a deeper level, feel free to REPLY to this email and I’ll get in touch with you.

Be unstoppable,

Max - Co-Founder of The16hourclub