The Power of Failure and the Power of the Pivot

There’s a silly notion that failure’s not an option at NASA. Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough.” - Elon Musk

The recruitment world is one driven by high-achievement and competition, much like NASA in the quote above, failure isn’t an option. Those who fail, often don’t survive in the cutthroat environment that is business today. However, this is starting to change. Technology companies, like Elon Musk’s and the plethora of start-ups that thrive on innovation and experimentation, not only accept failure but celebrate it.

As a small business owner, I would have told you that I know all about failing. Anyone is business knows that business is volatile. There are ups and downs, the environment changes, competitors become more aggressive and consumers more discerning and demanding. For small businesses these fluctuations can be even more disruptive and damaging. However, the benefits and power that comes from failing have only truly become apparent as I worked on a startup.

Over the last 2 years, in addition to my role as Managing Director at Chorus Executive, I’ve been working on a startup – www.peeplmatch.com.  My goal in recruitment has always been to help people find their dream jobs and careers so that they can help businesses be successful.   We all know that great businesses are built by great people who are passionate and aligned to what they are doing.

We created www.peeplmatch.com as a recruitment-matching platform that matched candidates based on values, goals and motivations as well as skills.  I have always believed, and research has proved it, that skill without will is useless.  That is, to be successful and productive in a role it takes more than knowing what to do. To be truly successful it takes passionate, motivation and a real commitment to the role.

Well, my passion, my motivation and my commitment didn’t fail me, but my idea did.  We couldn’t get it to work.  All our research groups told us it would. Employers loved the idea and potential candidates loved the process, but it didn’t work in practice.  Nobody bought our service.  (Violin music please)

I then had 3 choices – give up, keep going or pivot. Of course, I pivoted.

My vision has always been clear – to inspire people and help them find the careers and jobs that they will love.  I just had to find another way.

Six months later, with a lot of hard work, a few tears, a lot of soul searching and sleepless nights we have launched www.peeplcoach.com

www.peeplcoach.com – is an online career coaching program that boosts individuals career health and well-being.   Via our interface we coach employees – face to face, via live chat and through interactive and at times, challenging exercises to help individuals understand and then find their dream job.

www.peeplcoach.com is targeted to both organisations who want to provide true career assistance and succession planning to their employees as well as to individuals what want to take control of their own careers. 

Why would organisations want to help employees with their careers you might ask? Because, believe it or not, may individuals actually want to stay in their current organisations but not in their current role. Everyone wants growth and challenge and opportunity, unfortunately too many of us believe that the only way to get this is to get out.  www.peeplcoach.com helps employees see that this is not always the case and that they can build their career within the organisation.  Of course, for some it may be time to go.  This give the employee a chance to shine and the organisation the opportunity to find someone who really wants to be there. Win-win for all.

We have all read the statistics that 95% of all start-ups fail. PLEASE help me be one of the 5% of startups who succeed.  Failure isn’t always failure, sometimes it is just the precursor to amazing success.

By being part of this trial, you will not only be helping me, but also improving the career health and well being of your team as well as your long-term bottom line.

If you are interested in being part of our Beta Trial, please contact me or register online.