The upside of mistakes: how failing forward helps you serve customers better

June 10, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Catia Mondlane

Everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone knows how to use them to their advantage. When it comes to customer service, failing forward can actually help you serve your customers better. Failing forward means taking risks and making mistakes but learning from those mistakes and using them as opportunities for growth. It's about embracing the learning process and not being afraid to try new things.

Losing Your Job or Income Can Be Hugely Crippling

October 9, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Paula Quinsee

So many people’s jobs have been impacted financially by the pandemic either by having to take salary cuts, being made redundant due to the financial impact on business, or sadly business having to close down because they just couldn’t find a way to keep their doors open anymore.

Quote of the Day by Kah Walla

August 30, 2021 Melanie Hawken

“It is how well you learn from your failure and how quickly you recover from it that will build your success.”

Kah Walla, founder, STRATEGIES! (Cameroon)

Fail Your Way to Success!

August 22, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Nontobeko Mbuyane

It’s such a pity that we are so obsessed with living up to expectations that we can deny ourselves the permission to take chances. So many people are afraid of risk and often are paralyzed by the fear of failure. Sadly, this robs us of our creativity and moments of spontaneity that are often the source of our greatest triumphs. And although some may view failure as the end of the road, it’s far from being an absolute.

Failure is not death!

July 16, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Nandi Odri Usher

In 2017, I came across an Instagram quote posted by South African actress, MC and presenter, Simphiwe Ngema, that read: “When you’ve failed many times before, you overcome the fear of failure because you realize that failure is not death,” by Pastor Given Ngema. I must have read it 5/6 times, trying to process these words and understand them.

The thief called discouragement

December 11, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Tlholo Mabelane

Do entrepreneurs fail because they are discouraged, or are they discouraged because they fail? Well, for many of us when we embark on our journeys towards our goals and dreams we go in with what feels like a healthy sense of sober understanding that it will be an all-encompassing journey. We expect to have challenging days, we don’t anticipate a silver spoon feeding, and are ready to put in the work. We hold a posture of possibility and we do what we can as best as we can.

Entrepreneur Advice from Krystal Bella Shabani / Learn to conquer fear

November 4, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Krystal Bella Shabani, founder of Krysbel Designs (Burundi)

Learn to conquer fear!…

“Fear is one of the major barriers for young women to start a business. My advice would be that, in business, failure will be their best friend. So, they should start getting used to that.”

Krystal Bella Shabani, founder of Krysbel Designs (Burundi)

Entrepreneur Advice from Christelle Kwizera / Accept that mistakes are part of the journey

November 3, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Christelle Kwizera, founder, Water Access Rwanda (Rwanda)

Accept that mistakes are part of the journey!…

“My advice for all ladies starting up is to go for it and accept with grace and humility that failure and mistakes are just one part of a journey.”

Christelle Kwizera, founder, Water Access Rwanda (Rwanda)

Entrepreneur Advice from Natacha Nduwimana / Natacha Nduwimana

September 2, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Natacha Nduwimana, founder, Jelim Premier Events (Rwanda)

Keep focused on your vision!…

“The big deal is not that you failed, it’s whether you stayed there and faced your journey towards your vision.”

Natacha Nduwimana, founder, Jelim Premier Events (Rwanda)

Entrepreneur Advice from Nondumiso Zendile / Keep moving forward

August 3, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Nondumiso Zendile, founder, Kingsworth Civils and Construction Pty Ltd (South Africa)

Keep moving forward!…

“When you fall get up, pick up the pieces and move forward. It is like trial and error.”

Nondumiso Zendile, founder, Kingsworth Civils and Construction Pty Ltd (South Africa)

Quote of the Day by Laura Camacho

July 15, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“Your particular failure has the seeds of future success. Don’t forget to nurture them.”

Laura Camacho, founder, Mixonian Institute (USA)

Quote of the Day from Lilly Alfonso

May 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“Failures make you unique, so use them and turn them into positives.”

Lilly Alfonso, founder, Lilly Alfonso, Malawi

Entrepreneur Advice from Laura Camacho / Take a calculated risk

May 21, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Take a calculated risk…

“When you get things wrong, you learn. Be sure to congratulate yourself on trying something, on getting out of your comfort zone and taking the calculated risk. Not everyone does that and your failure is testament to your personal courage.”

Laura Camacho, founder, Mixonian Institute (USA)

Quote of the Day by Lufuno T. Khorommbi

April 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“Failures are part of the journey. As a result, do not allow yourself to dwell on your failures - fail forward!”

Adv. Lufuno T Khorommbi, founder, Orizur Consulting Enterprise (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Lilly Alfonso: Know yourself

October 11, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Lilly Alfonso, founder of Lilly Alfonso (Malawi)

Know yourself...

"... it is important to know yourself. Understand and believe in your dreams. Give yourself room to research and plan for whatever you are dreaming of venturing into. Giving up isn’t the only way if things get tough ahead. Challenges build you up, and so does criticism. Failures make you unique, so use them and turn them into positives."

Lilly Alfonso, founder of Lilly Alfonso (Malawi)

Maximize Your Failures

September 15, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Laura Camacho

You know failure is part of success, but what is the best way to get the most benefit from those painful and maybe embarrassing mistakes?

Entrepreneur Advice from Chinwe Ohajuruka: Success and failure

December 13, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Chinwe Ohajuruka, founder and CEO of Comprehensive Design Services (Nigeria) — **Chinwe Ohajuruka,** founder and CEO of Comprehensive Design Services (Nigeria)

Success and failure…

“Every entrepreneur will experience both success and failure along the way. I try to use success as a springboard for even greater success and likewise learn from failure, and use it to leverage success going forward.”

Chinwe Ohajuruka, founder and CEO of Comprehensive Design Services (Nigeria)

Quote of the Day by Shamila Ramjawan

February 22, 2018 Melanie Hawken

"Take calculated risks and get rid of the fear of failure symptom because hard work eventually pays off.”

- Shamila Ramjawan, co-founder of Famram Solutions (South Africa)

Quote of the Day by Mariana Agness Francisco Eria

February 20, 2018 Melanie Hawken

“The mistakes along the way are going to be the bricks to build the foundation of your business.”

- Mariana Agness Francisco Eria, founder of House Of Agness (Mozambique)

Entrepreneur Advice from Chule Gobodo: Give yourself permission to fail

February 15, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Chule Gobodo, co-founder of Brainbow Conscious Creatives (South Africa) — **Chule Gobodo**, co-founder of Brainbow Conscious Creatives (South Africa)

Give yourself permission to fail…

“Just start. Even if you fail big that's okay, give yourself permission to fail. If you don't you won't take risks and push your boundaries. Love yourself and make sure you nourish yourself and your relationships. Your family and friends are stakeholders, giving you the space to build.”

- Chule Gobodo is the co-founder of Brainbow Conscious Creatives, a South African film-maker connecting consumers and brands through visual storytelling. Her company is the only youth, female black owned boutique creative story agency in South Africa, specializing in using storytelling as a brand activism tool. This graduate of motion picture studies is constantly on the look out for the perfect story that is able to best create a connection between her client and their customers. Read Chule’s startup story.