The Power of ‘Messy Action’: Justin Welsh on Learning Through Failure

In a recent LinkedIn post, Justin Welsh delves into the often-overlooked value of taking action, even when it leads to failure. Welsh contrasts the mindset of those who actively pursue their goals with the paralysis experienced by many who fear looking foolish, arguing that attempting and failing is a crucial step toward eventual success.

Welsh highlights the importance of action over prolonged, inactive research. He states:

“I’d bet on the person taking messy action for a year than the one ‘researching’ for five.”

This perspective emphasizes that tangible experience, even if imperfect, is more valuable than extensive theoretical preparation that never translates into real-world application. Welsh points out that many individuals possess the time, talent, and resources but are held back by the fear of public judgment.

The Elite Group of Action-Takers

According to Justin Welsh, those who try and fail are part of an exclusive group he terms “action-takers.” This group includes individuals who launch products that don’t succeed, face numerous rejections, or consistently create content that receives little attention. Welsh argues that these experiences, while difficult, are essential for growth.

He elaborates on this point:

“The average person never even submits the application or publishes the post or asks for the sale or starts the thing.”

Welsh identifies the fear of appearing foolish as the primary inhibitor for the average person, leading to a “near-perfect record of zero attempts.” This avoidance of potential embarrassment means they never gain the critical feedback or learning opportunities that come from trying.

Failure as a Teacher

Reflecting on his own entrepreneurial journey, Justin Welsh shares that his initial years were filled with failures—unpopular content, unsold offers, and short-lived ideas. However, he stresses that each of these setbacks provided invaluable lessons.

As Justin Welsh notes:

“Every one of those taught me something that made me better in the long run.”

He posits that accumulating enough of these learning experiences eventually reveals what truly works. For Welsh, this process led to the mastery of seven specific skills, all of which he attributes to lessons learned through failure. This accumulation of knowledge, gained through trial and error, is what ultimately drives success.

A Free Resource for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

To share these accumulated learnings, Justin Welsh has compiled his insights into a free 30-page field manual titled “How I Built a $15M Business Without Destroying My Life.” This guide condenses years of learning, hundreds of essays, and hours of voice notes into a practical resource for those looking to navigate the entrepreneurial path.

Welsh concludes by emphasizing that embracing failure is not just about enduring setbacks, but about actively learning from them to build a more successful future.