Why I Told My Intern to Fail More Instead of Wishing Them Good Luck

When my intern wrapped up their time with us, I didn’t say, “Good luck in your career.”

Instead, I told them: “Go fail more.”

It might sound harsh at first. But here’s why I believe it’s the most valuable advice I could give.

The Problem With “Good Luck”

When we tell someone good luck, we’re putting their success in the hands of chance. Luck is unpredictable. It depends on timing, circumstances, and factors beyond our control.

But a career — a meaningful one — isn’t built on luck. It’s built on learning, resilience, and the courage to try even when you might stumble.

Why Failure Matters More Than Luck

I wanted my intern to understand that failure isn’t the opposite of success. It’s the process that leads to success.

• Failure teaches faster than success. When something breaks, you’re forced to analyze why.
• Failure builds resilience. Each stumble strengthens your ability to stand up again
• Failure proves you’re trying. Playing it safe might protect you from mistakes, but it also shields you from growth.

If you’re failing, it means you’re experimenting, learning, and stretching beyond what you already know.

The Fear of Failing Early

As interns, fresh graduates, or early-career professionals, the fear of failing is often at its peak. You don’t want to look foolish in front of a manager. You don’t want to submit the wrong draft. You don’t want to break the code.

But here’s the thing: this is the safest time to fail.

When you’re early in your career, you’re expected to experiment. Nobody expects perfection. But everyone respects the person who learns quickly and bounces back.

Failing Forward

“Fail more” doesn’t mean be careless. It means:

• Take bold action. Don’t hold back ideas.
• Volunteer for challenges you don’t fully know how to solve yet.
• Push yourself into uncomfortable zones where mistakes are inevitable.

Fail smart. Fail fast. And most importantly, fail forward — by using every misstep as momentum toward the next step.

The Long-Term Payoff

In five years, my intern won’t remember the bugs they missed in their first project. They won’t remember the typos in their first report.

But they will remember the lessons:

• How to test better.
• How to ask for help.
• How to stay calm under pressure.
• How to own a mistake and correct it.

That’s the kind of wisdom that luck can never give you.

Final Thought

So no, I didn’t wish my intern good luck. I told them to go fail more.

Because luck fades, but the lessons of failure last a lifetime. And if they embrace failure, they won’t just build a career — they’ll build confidence, resilience, and the courage to succeed on their own terms.