What if failure isn’t the end of the story—but information you can use to move forward?
In this conversation, Deborah Grayson Riegel talks with Carla about reframing failure, feedback, and the experiences that don’t go according to plan.
Carla shares the story of her restaurant—what worked, what didn’t, and what she discovered when she was later asked to speak about its failure. What initially felt like an experience she had little to offer from became an opportunity to recognize just how much she had learned.
Together, Deb and Carla explore how we can:
• Reframe setbacks as opportunities for learning
• Separate failure from shame
• Use feedback to get better faster
• Focus on changing one variable at a time
• Get curious about our emotional reactions
• Remember our “why” when feedback feels difficult
Deb also offers a powerful way to think about feedback: like a GPS. When you make a wrong turn, your GPS isn’t judging you—it’s simply giving you information to help you reach your destination more efficiently.
And sometimes, the experiences we most want to leave behind become the ones that have the most to teach us.
Learn more about Deborah Grayson Riegel and her work on communication, leadership, feedback, and professional development.
