Entrepreneurs encounter failure often. Successful entrepreneurs overcome failure and emerge wiser. We've taken 33 lessons about failure from Brian Honigman's article "33 Entrepreneurs Share Their Biggest Lessons Learned from Failure", illustrated them with statistics and a little story about entrepreneurship... in space!

1. Successful
Entrepreneurs
Learned From
Dealing with failure
WHAT
PRE SEN T S

2. PART I:
Getting
started

3. Success isn't necessarily found by being an employee.
Leo Widrich co-founder & COO, Buffer.

4. Success isn't necessarily found by being an employee.
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The key lesson for me, was that you might not get a job, but that
doesn't mean there aren't some great things you can still go out
and do.
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Leo Widrich co-founder COO, Buffer.

5. Success isn't necessarily found by being an employee.
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Gallup, Tom Rath and Donald Clifton, How Full Is Your Bucket? Positive Strategies for Work and Life, 2001

6. Think simple from the start.
Neil Patel Investor, advisor, blogger. Started CrazyEgg and KISSmetrics

7. Think simple from the start.
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By making your product really easy to use you are
more likely to succeed.
Neil Patel Investor, advisor, blogger. Started CrazyEgg and KISSmetrics

8. The stability of your career is under your control.
Kristi Hines freelance writer, ghostwriter and professional blogger, Kristi Hines Media.

9. The stability of your career is under your control.
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.+)0$!/!!4,!.%!*!/ČI learned that doing something you are passionate
about outside the bounds of a traditional job can lead to more stability. $%/%/
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Kristi Hines freelance writer, ghostwriter and professional blogger, Kristi Hines Media.

10. The stability of your career is under your control.
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http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonnazar/2013/09/09/16-surprising-statistics-about-small-businesses/

11. Tune out the noise and find your instinct.
Caroline Ghosn co-founder CEO, Levo League

12. Tune out the noise and find your instinct.
Trust your instinct. And if you can't tell what your instinct is
telling you, learn how to peel back the noise in your life that is
keeping you from hearing it.
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,,(50+,!+,(!ċ
Caroline Ghosn co-founder CEO, Levo League

13. A successful business requires 100% attention,
everything else is a distraction.
Jayson DeMers Founder CEO, Audiencebloom

14. A successful business requires 100% attention,
everything else is a distraction.
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Jayson DeMers Founder CEO, Audiencebloom
CONTINUeD -

15. A successful business requires 100% attention,
everything else is a distraction.
Because I was splitting my team between the two startups, growth
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the new startup to make it successful.
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Jayson DeMers Founder CEO, Audiencebloom

16. PART II:
BUILDING
YOUR TEAM

17. Finding success is much easier as a team.
Shane Snow Co-Founder, Contently

18. Finding success is much easier as a team.
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!/%!.3$!*5+1ŏ.!*+0 +%*#%0(+*!ċPartners whose skills complement
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success and small, or between success and failure.
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communities--make it easier to do huge things than small. +#!00$0
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Shane Snow Co-Founder, Contently

19. The quality of your team will make or break you.
Kiran Bellubbi Founder CEO, Applauze

20. The quality of your team will make or break you.
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Success is contingent on teams that are persistent, trust each other
and learn from their failures.
Kiran Bellubbi Founder CEO, Applauze

21. The quality of your team will make or break you.
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Kiran Bellubbi Founder CEO, Applauze

22. Iterate for different learning styles
across your company.
Jonathan Franchell Founder Principal, ironpaper

23. Iterate for different learning styles
across your company.
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Jonathan Franchell Founder Principal, ironpaper
CONTINUeD -

24. Iterate for different learning styles
across your company.
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3/%*%0%((5 %/+1.#! 3%0$0$!%(1.!+0$!ü./0! 10%+*
,.+#.)3%0$%*0$!+),*5ċWhat I learned after was just how
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be to the education program's success. *!! ! 0+1%( )+.!
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Jonathan Franchell Founder Principal, ironpaper

25. Disagreement and conflict are healthy.
Rand Fishkin Co-Founder, Moz Inbound.org

26. Disagreement and conflict are healthy.
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better decisions, and more exploration of the risks and opportunities.
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27. /05!.Č
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0+#!0!00!.ċ
Rand Fishkin Co-Founder, Moz Inbound.org

28. Disagreement and conflict are healthy.
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0$00$!53!.!.% 0+.%/!Č+10+!.+0$!
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http://www.ted.com/talks/margaret_heffernan_dare_to_disagree.html

29. Don't fail alone, find talented rockstars.
Sandi Krakowski PresidenT Founder, A real Change international inc sandpaper tablet INC

30. Don't fail alone, find talented rockstars.
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Sandi Krakowski PresidenT Founder, A real Change international inc sandpaper tablet INC

31. PART III:
FINDING YOUR
DIRECTION

32. Agree upon the direction of your company
from the beginning with key stakeholders.
Evan White PresidenT, Evan White PR

33. Agree upon the direction of your company
from the beginning with key stakeholders.
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1),%*0+0$! !!,!* ċ
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on where they saw the trajectory of the company going, and if
you're not on the same page it might not end as well as you
had hoped for.
Evan White PresidenT, Evan White PR

34. Avoid a Field of Dreams mentality.
Melisa Singh Founder, Storyshelter

35. Avoid a Field of Dreams mentality.
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.!/!.$č+*/1)!.%*/%#$0ċ
Melisa Singh Founder, Storyshelter
CONTINUeD -

36. Avoid a Field of Dreams mentality.
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3!.!0+1/!ċ!)!0+0$%/1* !./0* %*#5,5%*#00!*0%+*0++*/1)!.
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and being in tune with what our customers may actually desireČ!2!*%0$!5
+*ŏ0'*+3%0ċ
Melisa Singh Founder, Storyshelter

37. Your company's focus comes with trial and error.
Dan Greenberg Co-founder CEO, Sharethrough

38. Your company's focus comes with trial and error.
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!35!./0+(!.*0$0(!//+*ċ
Dan Greenberg Co-founder CEO, Sharethrough

39. Pay attention to your customers first.
Jon Beekman founder CEO, Man Crates

40. Pay attention to your customers first.
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$*#!+1.% !* 0$!+),*5%(! ċ
%0$
*ƫ.0!/ČI treat customers as co-creators helping to direct the company.
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+),*5ċ 03/*!4,!*/%2!(!//+*Č10,.%!(!//+*!%*)5!4,!.%!*!ċ
Jon Beekman founder CEO, Man Crates

41. Pay attention to your customers first.
0%/ćġĈ0%)!/)+.!+/0(50+00.0*!3
1/0+)!.0$*%0%/0+.!0%**!4%/0%*#1/0+)!.
White House Office of Consumer Affairs

42. Try to be incredible at one thing.
Brian Wallace President, NowSourcing.

43. Try to be incredible at one thing.
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/+)!0$%*#5+1(+2!* */(!5+1.1/%*!//0+Č5+1ŏ2!+1* %0ċ
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!0!.)%*0%+*0!.+( %*#%*!3/,!%(0%!/%*0+/+)!0$%*##.!0ċ
Brian Wallace President, NowSourcing.

44. PART IV:
GAINING
TRACTION

45. Push new ideas and projects forward.
Neal Schaffer Social business coach, consultant, trainer, speaker, author of “Maximize your social”

46. Push new ideas and projects forward.
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!1/!+0$!+*/0*0*!! 0+!4,!.%)!*0* +*!30$%*#/3%0$+10
!.+%(%*#ċ$0%/%),+.0*0Č0$+1#$Č%/0$03!(!.*.+)+1.%(1.!/ċ
5%(1.!$/!!*Č* %*/+)!35/+*0%*1!/0+!Č0$!%(1.!0++1/ċ

47. !0)!!4,(%*ċ
!((+)!1,3%0$% !/+**!31/%*!//+.*!3,.+ 10* *!! 0+
!4!10!%*0$!.%#$00%)!%*0$!.%#$035ċ$!,.+(!)%/0$03!(/+$2!
Ŏ(!#5Ŏ1/%*!//Č.!(0%+*/$%,/Č+.%*0!.0%+*/0$0/+)!0%)!/'!!,1/
35.+)+1/%*#+* +%*#0$!.%#$00$%*#/0+,1/$*!3% !/*
,.+!0/+.3. ċ
CONTINUeD -
Neal Schaffer Social business coach, consultant, trainer, speaker, author of “Maximize your social”

48. Push new ideas and projects forward.
+)!0%)!/%0)!*//%),(501.*%*# +3*0$%*#/0$03!1/! 0+!,0+.
!% %*#0+/%),(51*,(1#.+)+0$!.0%2%0%!/ċǫ100$!)!//#!%/(!.č
%0$+10(!.* ! %0! +1/Č3$0!2!.5+13*00+ +/*
entrepreneur will either not be acted upon in the right timing or not
%),(!)!*0! /!û!0%2!(5/%0+1( $2!!!*/$+1( 5+1$2!$
the focus. 0ŏ/,.!005/%),(!+*!,0Č10/+)!0%)!/0$!/%),(!/00$%*#/
.!0$!$. !/00+%),(!)!*0+* 5%* 5+10,,.+$ċ
CONTINUeD -
Neal Schaffer Social business coach, consultant, trainer, speaker, author of “Maximize your social”

49. The worst decision is indecision.
RYAN HARWOOD CEO, PureWow

50. The worst decision is indecision.
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+,,+.01*%05č0$!3+./0 !%/%+*%/%* !%/%+*ċ$!*5+1ŏ.!*!*0.!,.!*!1.Č5+1$2!0+
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help your business immensely.
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5+1.1/%*!//ċ
RYAN HARWOOD CEO, PureWow

51. Start now!
Wade Foster CEO Co-founder, Zapier

52. Start now!
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0$0ŏ/(! 0+/+)!0$%*#3!/+)!3+1( $2!!!*35)+.!3!/+)!
had I simply decided to start sooner.
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Wade Foster CEO Co-founder, Zapier

53. Being adaptable is the real test.
Cerrie Kerpen CEO Co-founder, Likeable Media

54. Being adaptable is the real test.
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help your business immensely.
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)!*0+./Č#0$!.'*+3(! #!* 0$!*)'!*! 10! !%/%+** +3$0ŏ/!/0+.
5+1.1/%*!//ċ
Cerrie Kerpen CEO Co-founder, PureWow

55. Be patient and adjust on the fly.
Joe Pulizzi Founder, Content Marketing Institute Author, Epic content marketing

56. Be patient and adjust on the fly.
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Joe Pulizzi Founder, Content Marketing Institute Author, Epic content marketing

57. Letting go of the need to look perfect.
Lewis Howes Creator, The School of greatness athelte extrodinaire

58. Letting go of the need to look perfect.
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something that people were inspired by.
Joe Pulizzi Founder, Content Marketing Institute Author, Epic content marketing

59. PART V:
DEALING WITH FAILURE

60. Success is not the natural state of things.
TED RUBIN ACTING CMO, Brand Innovators

61. Success is not the natural state of things.
The most important lesson I learned about failure is that without it, you do not
truly understand success. $!*/1!//+)!/0++!/%(5+.0++!.(5%*0$!
,.+!//Č3!+)!0+!(%!2!%0%/0$!*01.(/00!+0$%*#/Č* 3$!*%(1.!
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/0.!0$5+1./!(* *+0!.% +)'%*#)%/0'!/ċ!*!! 0+!),+3!.+1.
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%*.! %(52(1(!3$!*5+1)'!(!.*%*#,.0+0$!,.+!//ċ
TED RUBIN ACTING CMO, Brand Innovators

62. Success is not the natural state of things.
ąĆŌ+/0.01,/(/01/0ć)+*0$/
!+.!(+/%*#0$!%. ++./
http://visual.ly/start-ups-exposed

63. Look at failures as merely mistakes.
Jim Belosic CEO, SHORTSTACK

64. Look at failures as merely mistakes.
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0$!)/)%/0'!/Č*+0%(1.!/ċ ŏ(()'!0$!3.+*# !%/%+*+.#+
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+/0,!+,(!/!!0$!3+. %(1.!* 0$%*'Ŏ1*.!+2!.(!ċŎ */0! ČI
see failures as mini test results. I tried something, it didn't work, so
let's gather up what we learned and try again. ŏ2!*!2!.(!0)5
1/%*!//#!00+,+%*0+%(1.!Č ŏ2!/!0)5#1% !(%*!/* ,%2+0%
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Jim Belosic CEO, SHORTSTACK

65. Use data to help fail less often.
Larry Kim Founder wordstream

66. Use data to help fail less often.
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(%00(!0%)!* )+*!5ċ++0!*/0.0ġ1,/%*2!/0$1#!.!/+1.!/
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%),00((+*5+1.1/%*!//Č* /+)!3%((!2!*)'!0$%*#/
3+./!ċ
The key to success therefore is in trying to fail slightly less often
by using more data rather than gut feel in the project planning
phases, and not let projects that fail to meet their success
criteria linger around for too long.
Larry Kim Founder wordstream

67. Use data to help fail less often.
/%*# 00+ .%2!1/%*!// !%/%+*/*.!/1(0%**
%*.!)!*0(ĂąāŌ.!01.*+*%*2!/0)!*0ċ
http://www.business2community.com/marketing/go-small-or-go-home-why-niche-marketing-works-0429962#qtI3daASWkG2SBEp.99

68. Use your negative experiences to regroup.
Michael A. Stelzner CEO Founder, Social Media Examiner Mykidsadventures.com

69. Use your negative experiences to regroup.
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!2!*0/0$0ü03%0$%*)5+)+.06+*!ċ$0!* ! 1,$,,!*%*#3/0$!%.0$
+)5+*(%*!/1))%0/ċ2!*01((5+%(
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)%((%+*/+,!+,(!2%/%0+1./%0!* %0%/+*!+0$!(.#!/01/%*!//(+#/+*0$!
,(*!0ċ+)+.(+0$!/0+.5člet your failures clear your deck, much like a forest
ü.!Č/+*!3% !/*!+.*ċ+1*!2!.'*+3Č+*!+0$+/!% !/)%#$001.*
out to be a mighty oak!
Michael A. Stelzner CEO Founder, Social Media Examiner Mykidsadventures.com

70. Mistakes will surface new opportunities.
Meridith Valiando Rojas CEO Founder, Digitour media

71. Mistakes will surface new opportunities.
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+3*/Č0$.%((/Č* 1*!4,!0! 01.*/ċ
Meridith Valiando Rojas CEO Founder, Digitour media

72. Mistakes will surface new opportunities.
1(%/3/%(%*#/+%(*!03+.'%*#/%0!+.0$!#5+))1*%05ċ
Ƶ0!.%(! .!2),//#5!++'Č#5!(,* #5.+1,+*Č
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1(%/%*0+ċ+)Čý/$/(!/%0!/,!%(%/%*#%* !/%#*!.*
2%*0#!%0!)/3%0$+2!.Ć)%((%+*)!)!./ċ
http://www.inc.com/brilliant-failures/3-mistakes-that-built-companies_pagen_2.html

73. Welcome detours and failures with open arms.
Ekaterina Walter CMO, Househappy, Author of NYT bestseller “think like zuck”

74. Welcome detours and failures with open arms.
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*!0$%*#5+13%((*+0%!+10/1!//1(,!+,(!Č!/,!%((5,!+,(!3%0$*!*0.!,.!*!1.%(
/0.!'Č%/0$00$!5welcome detours and failures as a natural part of the journey 0$!5.!+*ċ
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+3$!* )!*0+.5+1*#,!+,(! 0!((0$!)ü./0* +.!)+/00+*!2!.-1!/0%+*0$!%.,//%+*
* 0$!%.%(%050+#!00$%*#/ +*!ċ 5+1$2!0$!+*ü !*!%*5+1./!(Č%*3$!.!5+1.!
#+%*#Č* 3$05+1.!0.5%*#0+1%( Č0$%/%/3$03%((#!05+10$.+1#$0+1#$0%)!/ċƵ* 0$0
%/((%0ŏ((!ġ0+1#$0%)!/0$05+1*+2!.+)!Č*+0Ƶ.)#! +*ċ
+%001.*/+100$00$!(%$hŎ$!*+*! ++.(+/!/Č*+0$!. ++.+,!*/Ŏ%/)+.!0$*
(%$h0!.((ċ+11/0*!! 0+!+*ü !*0!*+1#$0+/!!0$0+0$!.+,!* ++.ċƵ* 0$0
.!-1%.!/0$05+1*+0/0.!00$!(+/! ++.0++(+*#ċ
Ekaterina Walter CMO, Househappy, Author of NYT bestseller “think like zuck”

75. Get told no on a daily basis.
Shafqat Islam CEO, NEWScred

76. Get told no on a daily basis.
$!/%*#(!%##!/0(!.*%*#+.)!3/0+*+0!.% +%(1.!
* 0+01((5!).!%0ċ
+.!%),+.0*0(5Č (!.*! 0$05+1
*!! 0+%(Č* +0!*%(+0!*ċ
If you aren't being told no on a daily basis, you aren't pushing
yourself hard enough or taking enough risks.Ƶ/0!$
!*0.!,.!*!1./Č3!ŏ.!%*0$!1/%*!//+%**+20%+*Č/+%(1.!%/
,.0+0$!+1.*!5ċ
Shafqat Islam CEO, NEWScred

77. Nothing is as bad as it seems.
Gene Marks President, Marks group

78. Nothing is as bad as it seems.
5/%*#(!%##!/0(!//+*%//+)!0$%*#)5 01#$0)!č*+0$%*#%//
/%0/!!)/Ĩ100$!*#%**+0$%*#%//#++ /%0/!!)/!%0$!.ĩċ
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$!.!%/%((%+*,!+,(!%* * %Ĩ* ăĂĊČĊĊĊČĊĊĊ,!+,(!%*0$!ċċĩ
3$++1( .!(!//+105+1.%(1.!* %0ŏ/1/0*+0/Ŏ%),+.0*0Ŏ
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!)+0%+*/Č0$!*#!0'0+3+.'ċƵ* (/+.!)!)!.0$%//)!(!//+*
0$!*!400%)!5+1/1!! * 5+10$%*'((ŏ/#.!0ġ!1/!*+0$%*#ŏ/
/#++ /%0/!!)/!%0$!.ē
Gene Marks President, Marks group

79. Tomorrow is always another day.
Scott gerber Founder, Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) Author of Never get a ‘Real Job’

80. Tomorrow is always another day.
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to get it right. .(%!.%*)5!*0.!,.!*!1.%(.!!.Č 0++'%(1.!/2!.5,!./+*((5ċ
*!Ŏ%#%(1.!Ŏ3+1( #!0)! +3*+. 5/Č* %*/+)!%*/0*!/ %)%*%/$!
)5+*ü !*!* ,.+ 10%2%05+.3!!'/ċ
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%(1.!//(!//+*/(!.*! .0$!.0$*$. '*+'/ċ
5/!+* 1/%*!//3//0.+*#!./.!/1(0+0$!(!//+*/(!.*! +*)5ü./0#+
.+1* ċ+3Č)5+),*%!/minimize the potential for failures by shrinking our
downside on any single decision. Ƶ/.!/1(0Č3!#!0'1,/0.+*#!.* /0!.
3$!*3! +!/!0'Č* 0$!/1*1/1((5!* /1,/$%*%*#.%#$0!.%*0$!
5/0++)!/.!/1(0ċ
Scott gerber Founder, Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) Author of Never get a ‘Real Job’

81. Gosh... I’m gonna miss you
guys back on Earth
EPILOGUE

82. EPILOGUE
If only there was some
way to stay in touch
intergalactically...

83. EPILOGUE
Hmmmmmmmm...

84. EPILOGUE

85. successful entrepreneurs
master the art of customer acquisition.
Visit
Visit Blog.RReeffeerrrraallCaannddyy..ccoom
for more stories about entrepreneurs
Adapted from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brian-honigman/35-tech-entrepreneurs-failure_b_5529254.html
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