In the late 1960s, research chemist Spencer Silver was on a mission to create an extremely strong adhesive. He needed a formula so durable it could be used during aircraft construction. After multiple experimental mixtures, Silver had not only failed in crafting the powerful adhesive, but he had made just the opposite. 

The chemist created an adhesive that stuck to surfaces and could be removed and reused. Although he didn’t have an immediate use for it, Silver patented the mixture known as acrylate copolymer microspheres in 1972. Today, that failed experiment is in nearly every office around the globe. Silver created the first iteration of the Post-It Note.

Silver understood the lesson that author and leadership expert John C. Maxwell shares in his work Failing Forward: find the unexpected gifts in failure. Despite having no purposeful use or support for his adhesive, Silver knew there was something to his creation. What was viewed as useless in 1968 became a highly sought-after solution in 1974.

In the six years between origination and launch, Silver could have easily given up on turning the sticky substance into a practical product. But Silver consistently believed in his vision even when others dismissed his work.

Patience and persistence are two must-have ingredients in your creative kitchen. Each failure carries three crucial lessons:

  • Every failure is an opportunity to improve
  • Every failure is a success story in the making
  • It’s completely ok that your first attempt isn’t perfect

Learning to fail is an invaluable process that allows unexpected ideas to flow forward. Like Silver, you may begin an iteration with a specific goal in mind. But being open to failure makes room for other successes to surface along the way.











The Innovator's Handbook

The Innovator’s Handbook: A Short Guide to Unleashing Your Creative Mindset, launched earlier this month. It’s amazing to see the stories and practical exercises in the book come to life by readers from around the world sharing their insights. Thank you for supporting the book into the #1 best-seller spot in multiple design and business categories on Amazon.

Available in both paperback and kindle versions.

Dream BIG, innovation has no limits!