The Failure of Not Trying

In a world obsessed with perfection, where failure is often feared more than anything else, it's crucial to remember the wisdom shared by visionary artist and designer, Virgil Abloh. During his speeches at the Rhode Island School of Design and Columbia University, Abloh highlighted a fundamental truth: the real failure lies not in trying and falling short but in never trying at all.

Abloh's words resonate deeply, challenging the conventional notion of failure as a negative outcome. He emphasizes that perfectionism, far from driving progress, often hinders it. Instead, he advocates for embracing imperfection and taking bold leaps into the unknown, even if it means producing work that may not meet our lofty standards.

As creatives, we're prone to self-doubt and inner struggles, constantly questioning whether our work lives up to our aspirations. Yet, Abloh reminds us that the true measure of success lies in the process itself—the relentless pursuit of our creative visions, regardless of the initial quality of our output.

Indeed, Abloh's philosophy echoes the sentiment that greatness is born from a willingness to start, even if it means starting imperfectly. Each piece of "bad work" becomes a stepping stone, contributing to the momentum needed to propel us towards our ultimate goals.

So, let's embrace Abloh's advice and liberate ourselves from the shackles of perfectionism. Let's dare to take risks, make mistakes, and learn from them along the way. For it is in the act of trying, of daring greatly, that we truly come alive as creators. Remember, the only failure is not to try.