A Smart Bear · Jason Cohen
articleprincipleStop saying "fail"
10 September 2023Profit
Source excerpt
About A Smart BearLanguage shapes our perception of setbacks. Use words other than "failure" to describe situations and to suggest the next step.
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Apollo layer
What a founder can learn
Founder takeaway
Replace the blanket label of failure with precise descriptions of what happened—such as a disproved assumption, poor execution, or an experiment that produced useful evidence—then name the appropriate next step.
Why it matters
Precise language reduces unproductive judgment, improves diagnosis, and helps teams turn setbacks into clearer decisions and action.
Relevant guides
Put it to work
At your next retrospective, ask: What specifically fell short, what did we learn, and should we revise, retry, or stop?
Private notes