What do I actually get inside?

A small group of people building businesses that have not worked yet. You post what you tried, what broke, and what you do next. People who are three attempts ahead of you answer.

Who reads my application?

One person, the founder. Not a bot. You get a yes or a no by email within 24 hours.

Why would you say no to me?

Blank answers, people who are here to sell, and people who have never tried anything. Never because your failure is too small.

Yes. No paid tier, no course, no upsell.

Do I have to use my real name or show my face?

A first name or a nickname is enough. The only thing that has to be real is the number next to your name.

How much time does it take?

Five minutes on a bad day, an hour in the work room on a good one. The Thursday round table at 21:00 Lisbon is optional.

What happens when it finally works?

You post it in #wins, the group confirms, your count freezes and your role becomes Winner.

Discord server · Free · By application

Proven at failing. Certain of success.

For people who have failed, are certain they will make it, and share the failures on the way.

Apply to join See how it works

The count

Attempt0

Proven at failing.Certain of success.

The count

Everyone you look up to had a number first.

10years of auditions and a string of films nobody released.Jessica Chastain

10years of auditions and a string of films nobody released.Jessica Chastain

**$606**the cost of recording Nirvana's first album.Kurt Cobain

**$606**the cost of recording Nirvana's first album.Kurt Cobain

10years writing a cookbook publishers called far too long.Julia Child

10years writing a cookbook publishers called far too long.Julia Child

**17,000**C5s built before the company collapsed.Clive Sinclair

**17,000**C5s built before the company collapsed.Clive Sinclair

76rejections over ten years before a publisher said yes.Jasper Fforde

76rejections over ten years before a publisher said yes.Jasper Fforde

62years before the school that rejected her gave her the degree.Nina Simone

62years before the school that rejected her gave her the degree.Nina Simone

27seasons, three Champions League finals, never a winner's medal.Gianluigi Buffon

27seasons, three Champions League finals, never a winner's medal.Gianluigi Buffon

**$50M**the offer Blockbuster laughed at.Reed Hastings

**$50M**the offer Blockbuster laughed at.Reed Hastings

**600**rejection slips before his first story sold.Jack London

**600**rejection slips before his first story sold.Jack London

**$10M**the cheque he wrote himself while broke, dated five years out.Jim Carrey

**$10M**the cheque he wrote himself while broke, dated five years out.Jim Carrey

30people came to his first play. He kept staging it for six years.Tyler Perry

30people came to his first play. He kept staging it for six years.Tyler Perry

21publishers rejected Lord of the Flies.William Golding

21publishers rejected Lord of the Flies.William Golding

10years of rejections before her first sale.Ursula K. Le Guin

10years of rejections before her first sale.Ursula K. Le Guin

**800**boxes of cereal sold to keep Airbnb alive.Brian Chesky

**800**boxes of cereal sold to keep Airbnb alive.Brian Chesky

17seasons before he reached a Finals.Chris Paul

17seasons before he reached a Finals.Chris Paul

16years old and thrown out of school before the first shoe.Christian Louboutin

16years old and thrown out of school before the first shoe.Christian Louboutin

12seats filled on a good night, for years, in the best restaurant in the world.Massimo Bottura

12seats filled on a good night, for years, in the best restaurant in the world.Massimo Bottura

10years of ridicule for prions, then the Nobel.Stanley B. Prusiner

10years of ridicule for prions, then the Nobel.Stanley B. Prusiner

**9,000**cars built before the factory closed.John DeLorean

**9,000**cars built before the factory closed.John DeLorean

39years old and dropped by her label. She won four Grammys the next year.Bonnie Raitt

39years old and dropped by her label. She won four Grammys the next year.Bonnie Raitt

10years out of government, written off as finished.Winston Churchill

10years out of government, written off as finished.Winston Churchill

**543,895**more votes than the man who took the office.Al Gore

**543,895**more votes than the man who took the office.Al Gore

**198**players were picked before him in the draft.Tom Brady

**198**players were picked before him in the draft.Tom Brady

36years late finishing the doctorate he abandoned for a band.Brian May

36years late finishing the doctorate he abandoned for a band.Brian May

**$170M**written off on the Fire Phone. He kept shipping.Jeff Bezos

**$170M**written off on the Fire Phone. He kept shipping.Jeff Bezos

33years of calculations, and her name left off the reports.Katherine Johnson

33years of calculations, and her name left off the reports.Katherine Johnson

30operations after the bus. She painted from the bed.Frida Kahlo

30operations after the bus. She painted from the bed.Frida Kahlo

25publishers rejected The Time Traveler's Wife.Audrey Niffenegger

25publishers rejected The Time Traveler's Wife.Audrey Niffenegger

50years of politics before anyone made her prime minister.Golda Meir

50years of politics before anyone made her prime minister.Golda Meir

**121**publishers rejected Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.Robert M. Pirsig

**121**publishers rejected Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.Robert M. Pirsig

33years old and waiting tables when Blondie finally worked.Debbie Harry

33years old and waiting tables when Blondie finally worked.Debbie Harry

39years old when anyone laughed at him on television.Ricky Gervais

39years old when anyone laughed at him on television.Ricky Gervais

25years old and playing non-league. Then the Premier League title.Jamie Vardy

25years old and playing non-league. Then the Premier League title.Jamie Vardy

**5,317**free throws missed, the most in NBA history.Shaquille O'Neal

**5,317**free throws missed, the most in NBA history.Shaquille O'Neal

**50,000**computers NeXT sold in its whole life. Then Apple bought it.Steve Jobs

**50,000**computers NeXT sold in its whole life. Then Apple bought it.Steve Jobs

14publishers said no. He printed it and thanked them by name.E. E. Cummings

14publishers said no. He printed it and thanked them by name.E. E. Cummings

**1,000**nights doing an act he hated before he threw it out on stage.Richard Pryor

**1,000**nights doing an act he hated before he threw it out on stage.Richard Pryor

18years of stand-up: ten learning, four refining, four working.Steve Martin

18years of stand-up: ten learning, four refining, four working.Steve Martin

20years of small parts and being told there was nothing for her.Viola Davis

20years of small parts and being told there was nothing for her.Viola Davis

**$44B**of Yahoo's value gone by the time it sold for $4.5B.Marissa Mayer

**$44B**of Yahoo's value gone by the time it sold for $4.5B.Marissa Mayer

36publishers rejected her second book.Arianna Huffington

36publishers rejected her second book.Arianna Huffington

**266**interceptions and three Super Bowls lost.Fran Tarkenton

**266**interceptions and three Super Bowls lost.Fran Tarkenton

71weeks as world number one before she won a major.Caroline Wozniacki

71weeks as world number one before she won a major.Caroline Wozniacki

55years before the apology came.Alan Turing

55years before the apology came.Alan Turing

62years old when his first album came out.Charles Bradley

62years old when his first album came out.Charles Bradley

10years called a disgrace for quasicrystals. Then the Nobel.Dan Shechtman

10years called a disgrace for quasicrystals. Then the Nobel.Dan Shechtman

32years old and making toilets for aeroplanes when the record came out.Bill Withers

32years old and making toilets for aeroplanes when the record came out.Bill Withers

10francs a sketch, after the crash took the gallery and the money.Christian Dior

10francs a sketch, after the crash took the gallery and the money.Christian Dior

**158**Grands Prix without a podium.Martin Brundle

**158**Grands Prix without a podium.Martin Brundle

**12,000**copies of Catch-22 sold in hardback the first year.Joseph Heller

**12,000**copies of Catch-22 sold in hardback the first year.Joseph Heller

20years as a working actor before the role that mattered.Bryan Cranston

20years as a working actor before the role that mattered.Bryan Cranston

**$17.5M**raised and burned on a game nobody played. Then Slack.Stewart Butterfield

**$17.5M**raised and burned on a game nobody played. Then Slack.Stewart Butterfield

10years as a firefighter in New York before the parts came.Steve Buscemi

10years as a firefighter in New York before the parts came.Steve Buscemi

13years painting after they auctioned everything he owned.Rembrandt

13years painting after they auctioned everything he owned.Rembrandt

17seasons at one club, never a league title.Steven Gerrard

17seasons at one club, never a league title.Steven Gerrard

12publishers rejected The Fountainhead.Ayn Rand

12publishers rejected The Fountainhead.Ayn Rand

**1,476**games played. He never won a title.Karl Malone

**1,476**games played. He never won a title.Karl Malone

**1,383**strikeouts before the home run record was his.Hank Aaron

**1,383**strikeouts before the home run record was his.Hank Aaron

**25,000**copies sold of his first album. The label nearly dropped him.Bruce Springsteen

**25,000**copies sold of his first album. The label nearly dropped him.Bruce Springsteen

**14,481**shots missed, the most in NBA history.Kobe Bryant

**14,481**shots missed, the most in NBA history.Kobe Bryant

11novels rejected before one was printed.Philip K. Dick

11novels rejected before one was printed.Philip K. Dick

**316**losses, the most in baseball history. The award carries his name.Cy Young

**316**losses, the most in baseball history. The award carries his name.Cy Young

**$8M**raised for a social network that failed before LinkedIn.Reid Hoffman

**$8M**raised for a social network that failed before LinkedIn.Reid Hoffman

**$25**for his dog, to make rent. Then he wrote Rocky.Sylvester Stallone

**$25**for his dog, to make rent. Then he wrote Rocky.Sylvester Stallone

12years of films nobody outside Korea would distribute.Bong Joon-ho

12years of films nobody outside Korea would distribute.Bong Joon-ho

30years lost to illness between the maths and the Nobel.John Forbes Nash Jr.

30years lost to illness between the maths and the Nobel.John Forbes Nash Jr.

78rejections for his first novel. He burned the manuscript once.Marlon James

78rejections for his first novel. He burned the manuscript once.Marlon James

**100**users on the app he scrapped. What was left became Instagram.Kevin Systrom

**100**users on the app he scrapped. What was left became Instagram.Kevin Systrom

**4,195**shots that missed. He scored 894.Wayne Gretzky

**4,195**shots that missed. He scored 894.Wayne Gretzky

**9,000**shots missed in his career. His own count.Michael Jordan

**9,000**shots missed in his career. His own count.Michael Jordan

10years of rejection letters, kept in a box.Janet Evanovich

10years of rejection letters, kept in a box.Janet Evanovich

**$300M**earned, then bankruptcy. He fought his way back out.Mike Tyson

**$300M**earned, then bankruptcy. He fought his way back out.Mike Tyson

49years before the New York Times printed the correction.Robert H. Goddard

49years before the New York Times printed the correction.Robert H. Goddard

**1,966**days as a prisoner of war.John McCain

**1,966**days as a prisoner of war.John McCain

**£500,000**in debt and back at his parents' house when his label folded.Simon Cowell

**£500,000**in debt and back at his parents' house when his label folded.Simon Cowell

29arrests before the speech everyone quotes.Martin Luther King Jr.

29arrests before the speech everyone quotes.Martin Luther King Jr.

53films, and not one Oscar for directing.Alfred Hitchcock

53films, and not one Oscar for directing.Alfred Hitchcock

40years building clocks the board refused to pay for.John Harrison

40years building clocks the board refused to pay for.John Harrison

11years between majors, and four back operations.Tiger Woods

11years between majors, and four back operations.Tiger Woods

47years old, unemployed, laughed at before she sang.Susan Boyle

47years old, unemployed, laughed at before she sang.Susan Boyle

**10,000**copies, the total for his first three books.Dan Brown

**10,000**copies, the total for his first three books.Dan Brown

40years old when she opened the shop, after the Olympics and Vogue said no.Vera Wang

40years old when she opened the shop, after the Olympics and Vogue said no.Vera Wang

27years old when it ended. He had been sleeping in a park at nineteen.Jean-Michel Basquiat

27years old when it ended. He had been sleeping in a park at nineteen.Jean-Michel Basquiat

21years old, out of prison, before any club would sign him.Ian Wright

21years old, out of prison, before any club would sign him.Ian Wright

13novels written before anyone bought one.Brandon Sanderson

13novels written before anyone bought one.Brandon Sanderson

27publishers rejected his first book.Dr. Seuss

27publishers rejected his first book.Dr. Seuss

20years of being told there was nothing written for her.Melissa McCarthy

20years of being told there was nothing written for her.Melissa McCarthy

**141**in the world, three years after being number one.Andre Agassi

**141**in the world, three years after being number one.Andre Agassi

30penalties missed in his career. He took the next one.Cristiano Ronaldo

30penalties missed in his career. He took the next one.Cristiano Ronaldo

26years old and still teaching in a school in Newcastle.Sting

26years old and still teaching in a school in Newcastle.Sting

41years old when he sold his car to start the label.Giorgio Armani

41years old when he sold his car to start the label.Giorgio Armani

48Nobel nominations. She never won one.Lise Meitner

48Nobel nominations. She never won one.Lise Meitner

10years in court against RCA over the television he invented.Philo Farnsworth

10years in court against RCA over the television he invented.Philo Farnsworth

46years old at his first film role.Alan Rickman

46years old at his first film role.Alan Rickman

**$5,000**of savings, and no hosiery mill would take her call.Sara Blakely

**$5,000**of savings, and no hosiery mill would take her call.Sara Blakely

35years of nobody reading the paper that started genetics.Gregor Mendel

35years of nobody reading the paper that started genetics.Gregor Mendel

36cents and a petrol card, the night she walked out.Tina Turner

36cents and a petrol card, the night she walked out.Tina Turner

19second places at majors. Nobody has more.Jack Nicklaus

19second places at majors. Nobody has more.Jack Nicklaus

**1,000**glides that ended in the sand before the first flight.Wilbur Wright

**1,000**glides that ended in the sand before the first flight.Wilbur Wright

40years before anyone took dark matter seriously.Fritz Zwicky

40years before anyone took dark matter seriously.Fritz Zwicky

28years in other people's kitchens before anyone read a word he wrote.Anthony Bourdain

28years in other people's kitchens before anyone read a word he wrote.Anthony Bourdain

19seasons and not a single playoff game.Ernie Banks

19seasons and not a single playoff game.Ernie Banks

17years old when a bike crash ended the racing career he wanted.Paul Smith

17years old when a bike crash ended the racing career he wanted.Paul Smith

20years he sat on the theory, afraid of what it would cost him.Charles Darwin

20years he sat on the theory, afraid of what it would cost him.Charles Darwin

**$100M**company, bankrupt within four years.Sophia Amoruso

**$100M**company, bankrupt within four years.Sophia Amoruso

34paintings survive. He died in debt and was forgotten for 200 years.Johannes Vermeer

34paintings survive. He died in debt and was forgotten for 200 years.Johannes Vermeer

10years of writing songs nobody recorded.Elton John

10years of writing songs nobody recorded.Elton John

31publishers rejected his first novel.James Patterson

31publishers rejected his first novel.James Patterson

30years of ridicule before the theory was accepted.Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar

30years of ridicule before the theory was accepted.Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar

**$4,000**borrowed from his father after he lost everything in 1982.Ray Dalio

**$4,000**borrowed from his father after he lost everything in 1982.Ray Dalio

30years in German television before anyone outside knew the name.Christoph Waltz

30years in German television before anyone outside knew the name.Christoph Waltz

20seasons and not one Champions League medal.Zlatan Ibrahimović

20seasons and not one Champions League medal.Zlatan Ibrahimović

13years out of film, boxing for money.Mickey Rourke

13years out of film, boxing for money.Mickey Rourke

50days after opening, his restaurant burned to the ground.Nobuyuki Matsuhisa

50days after opening, his restaurant burned to the ground.Nobuyuki Matsuhisa

**$9.80**the rented typewriter time it took to write Fahrenheit 451.Ray Bradbury

**$9.80**the rented typewriter time it took to write Fahrenheit 451.Ray Bradbury

30days of cash left when Nvidia's first chip failed.Jensen Huang

30days of cash left when Nvidia's first chip failed.Jensen Huang

11Grand Slam finals lost, a record he still holds.Ivan Lendl

11Grand Slam finals lost, a record he still holds.Ivan Lendl

**5,126**prototypes that failed before the one that worked.James Dyson

**5,126**prototypes that failed before the one that worked.James Dyson

**$200B**the mistake he says buying Berkshire's textile mill cost him.Warren Buffett

**$200B**the mistake he says buying Berkshire's textile mill cost him.Warren Buffett

**251**interceptions thrown. He kept dropping back.Peyton Manning

**251**interceptions thrown. He kept dropping back.Peyton Manning

21years old before his first professional match.Didier Drogba

21years old before his first professional match.Didier Drogba

26years at the label that dropped him.Johnny Cash

26years at the label that dropped him.Johnny Cash

10years and debtors' prison before the rubber held.Charles Goodyear

10years and debtors' prison before the rubber held.Charles Goodyear

**$5M**taken by his manager at 70. He went back on tour.Leonard Cohen

**$5M**taken by his manager at 70. He went back on tour.Leonard Cohen

22years old, both parents dead, four siblings to raise.Shania Twain

22years old, both parents dead, four siblings to raise.Shania Twain

12years out of power before they called him back.Charles de Gaulle

12years out of power before they called him back.Charles de Gaulle

32years old when cancer took his sense of taste. He kept cooking.Grant Achatz

32years old when cancer took his sense of taste. He kept cooking.Grant Achatz

**$19B**Facebook paid for the company, after turning him down for a job.Jan Koum

**$19B**Facebook paid for the company, after turning him down for a job.Jan Koum

**1,710**strikeouts, a record when he retired.Mickey Mantle

**1,710**strikeouts, a record when he retired.Mickey Mantle

31penalties missed. He kept stepping up to take them.Lionel Messi

31penalties missed. He kept stepping up to take them.Lionel Messi

**$5.50**an hour stacking shelves after nobody drafted him.Kurt Warner

**$5.50**an hour stacking shelves after nobody drafted him.Kurt Warner

25restaurants closed the week his chain collapsed.Jamie Oliver

25restaurants closed the week his chain collapsed.Jamie Oliver

28publishers rejected A Time to Kill.John Grisham

28publishers rejected A Time to Kill.John Grisham

34days late to the South Pole. Amundsen had been and gone.Robert Falcon Scott

34days late to the South Pole. Amundsen had been and gone.Robert Falcon Scott

27years in a cell before the country was his.Nelson Mandela

27years in a cell before the country was his.Nelson Mandela

21years old and running Dior. They sacked him three years later.Yves Saint Laurent

21years old and running Dior. They sacked him three years later.Yves Saint Laurent

**2,000**recipes tested before the one that cured malaria.Tu Youyou

**2,000**recipes tested before the one that cured malaria.Tu Youyou

34years old and singing in piano bars for a living.Andrea Bocelli

34years old and singing in piano bars for a living.Andrea Bocelli

12years of nobody caring about the mould on his dish.Alexander Fleming

12years of nobody caring about the mould on his dish.Alexander Fleming

**144**publishers rejected Chicken Soup for the Soul.Jack Canfield

**144**publishers rejected Chicken Soup for the Soul.Jack Canfield

30points, the margin he lost his first congressional race by.Barack Obama

30points, the margin he lost his first congressional race by.Barack Obama

**312**gigs in one year, sleeping on sofas.Ed Sheeran

**312**gigs in one year, sleeping on sofas.Ed Sheeran

30jobs he applied for. All said no, including KFC.Jack Ma

30jobs he applied for. All said no, including KFC.Jack Ma

**100**rice cookers that burned the rice. Sony's first product.Akio Morita

**100**rice cookers that burned the rice. Sony's first product.Akio Morita

25publishers rejected The 4-Hour Workweek.Tim Ferriss

25publishers rejected The 4-Hour Workweek.Tim Ferriss

**$100M**of his own money burned on three failed launches. The fourth flew.Elon Musk

**$100M**of his own money burned on three failed launches. The fourth flew.Elon Musk

33years old, broke, and out of university twice.Larry Ellison

33years old, broke, and out of university twice.Larry Ellison

**250**copies she printed herself after the publishers said no.Beatrix Potter

**250**copies she printed herself after the publishers said no.Beatrix Potter

10years teaching himself in a pub kitchen with no training.Heston Blumenthal

10years teaching himself in a pub kitchen with no training.Heston Blumenthal

16years old when he failed the entrance exam to the Zurich Polytechnic.Albert Einstein

16years old when he failed the entrance exam to the Zurich Polytechnic.Albert Einstein

**3,200**copies of Moby-Dick sold while he was alive.Herman Melville

**3,200**copies of Moby-Dick sold while he was alive.Herman Melville

**30,000**Segways sold in six years. He had promised millions.Dean Kamen

**30,000**Segways sold in six years. He had promised millions.Dean Kamen

39years old, two children, full-time job, first novel.Toni Morrison

39years old, two children, full-time job, first novel.Toni Morrison

30years of law and teaching lined up for him. He left all of it.John Cleese

30years of law and teaching lined up for him. He left all of it.John Cleese

40years on a tomb that was never built. He called it his tragedy.Michelangelo

40years on a tomb that was never built. He called it his tragedy.Michelangelo

80years forgotten after he died, until Mendelssohn dug him up.Johann Sebastian Bach

80years forgotten after he died, until Mendelssohn dug him up.Johann Sebastian Bach

24publishers rejected his first book.Nicholas Sparks

24publishers rejected his first book.Nicholas Sparks

22seasons before he lifted the cup, in his last game.Ray Bourque

22seasons before he lifted the cup, in his last game.Ray Bourque

**$30B**gone in eighteen months, from seventh richest man alive.Eike Batista

**$30B**gone in eighteen months, from seventh richest man alive.Eike Batista

10years when the industry treated him as finished.John Travolta

10years when the industry treated him as finished.John Travolta

11years in prison before his first film job.Danny Trejo

11years in prison before his first film job.Danny Trejo

**$8B**of his own fortune gone in the AOL merger.Ted Turner

**$8B**of his own fortune gone in the AOL merger.Ted Turner

14Virgin companies have closed. He kept the name.Richard Branson

14Virgin companies have closed. He kept the name.Richard Branson

25years deaf. He wrote the Ninth without hearing a note of it.Ludwig van Beethoven

25years deaf. He wrote the Ninth without hearing a note of it.Ludwig van Beethoven

**275**matches lost. He won 1,251.Roger Federer

**275**matches lost. He won 1,251.Roger Federer

45arrests, and a skull fractured on a bridge.John Lewis

45arrests, and a skull fractured on a bridge.John Lewis

20years on tour before he won a major.Tom Kite

20years on tour before he won a major.Tom Kite

**900**paintings. He sold one in his lifetime.Vincent van Gogh

**900**paintings. He sold one in his lifetime.Vincent van Gogh

14agents said no, or nothing, to Twilight.Stephenie Meyer

14agents said no, or nothing, to Twilight.Stephenie Meyer

**101**games lost for a team that could not block.Archie Manning

**101**games lost for a team that could not block.Archie Manning

**122**rejection slips pinned around his room before the first sale.F. Scott Fitzgerald

**122**rejection slips pinned around his room before the first sale.F. Scott Fitzgerald

14years old, barely able to read. A waiter taught him from newspapers.Sidney Poitier

14years old, barely able to read. A waiter taught him from newspapers.Sidney Poitier

66years old when his first book was published.Frank McCourt

66years old when his first book was published.Frank McCourt

48years between the paper nobody wanted and the proof.Peter Higgs

48years between the paper nobody wanted and the proof.Peter Higgs

20years of the Salon turning him away.Claude Monet

20years of the Salon turning him away.Claude Monet

**127**hours pinned by a boulder before he cut himself free.Aron Ralston

**127**hours pinned by a boulder before he cut himself free.Aron Ralston

88majors played without winning one.Lee Westwood

88majors played without winning one.Lee Westwood

**35,000**copies at 99 cents, self-published, before a publisher called.Andy Weir

**35,000**copies at 99 cents, self-published, before a publisher called.Andy Weir

39years old when polio took his legs. He ran anyway.Franklin D. Roosevelt

39years old when polio took his legs. He ran anyway.Franklin D. Roosevelt

10years of losing money before the restaurant paid for itself.Alice Waters

10years of losing money before the restaurant paid for itself.Alice Waters

30years of small parts before anyone knew his name.Morgan Freeman

30years of small parts before anyone knew his name.Morgan Freeman

30years working demolition, famous on the other side of the world.Sixto Rodriguez

30years working demolition, famous on the other side of the world.Sixto Rodriguez

18publishers rejected Jonathan Livingston Seagull.Richard Bach

18publishers rejected Jonathan Livingston Seagull.Richard Bach

80the round he shot on the Sunday he led the Masters.Rory McIlroy

80the round he shot on the Sunday he led the Masters.Rory McIlroy

20publishers rejected Dune. A car manual company printed it.Frank Herbert

20publishers rejected Dune. A car manual company printed it.Frank Herbert

**200**rejections before anyone bought a story.Louis L'Amour

**200**rejections before anyone bought a story.Louis L'Amour

14Tours de France, never once in the yellow jersey.Raymond Poulidor

14Tours de France, never once in the yellow jersey.Raymond Poulidor

60agents said no to The Help over five years.Kathryn Stockett

60agents said no to The Help over five years.Kathryn Stockett

**$4M**in debt when she sold the company that made her famous.Diane von Fürstenberg

**$4M**in debt when she sold the company that made her famous.Diane von Fürstenberg

16seasons, no ring. He never stopped saying so.Charles Barkley

16seasons, no ring. He never stopped saying so.Charles Barkley

14years old and fired from his first kitchen.Wolfgang Puck

14years old and fired from his first kitchen.Wolfgang Puck

57years old at her first novel.Annie Proulx

57years old at her first novel.Annie Proulx

**100**investors said no to Canva before one said yes.Melanie Perkins

**100**investors said no to Canva before one said yes.Melanie Perkins

29years old, running a jazz bar, when he wrote the first one.Haruki Murakami

29years old, running a jazz bar, when he wrote the first one.Haruki Murakami

**2,715**hits in his career. People only remember one ground ball.Bill Buckner

**2,715**hits in his career. People only remember one ground ball.Bill Buckner

**260**Premier League goals, one trophy.Alan Shearer

**260**Premier League goals, one trophy.Alan Shearer

40years old before she stopped showing her face and it worked.Sia

40years old before she stopped showing her face and it worked.Sia

**217**investors said no to Starbucks. He kept asking.Howard Schultz

**217**investors said no to Starbucks. He kept asking.Howard Schultz

51cars built before the company died.Preston Tucker

51cars built before the company died.Preston Tucker

40years old, told she was too old, too short and too black.Sharon Jones

40years old, told she was too old, too short and too black.Sharon Jones

**$1M**settlement after she was pushed out of the company she built.Whitney Wolfe Herd

**$1M**settlement after she was pushed out of the company she built.Whitney Wolfe Herd

**125**in the world, on a wildcard, when he finally won Wimbledon.Goran Ivanišević

**125**in the world, on a wildcard, when he finally won Wimbledon.Goran Ivanišević

**307**times caught stealing on the way to the record.Lou Brock

**307**times caught stealing on the way to the record.Lou Brock

30years of being ignored before the Nobel Prize.Barbara McClintock

30years of being ignored before the Nobel Prize.Barbara McClintock

**5,000**copies sold of his first album.Bob Dylan

**5,000**copies sold of his first album.Bob Dylan

**5,000**early users he emailed by hand when Pinterest was empty.Ben Silbermann

**5,000**early users he emailed by hand when Pinterest was empty.Ben Silbermann

**359**years before the church admitted he had been right.Galileo Galilei

**359**years before the church admitted he had been right.Galileo Galilei

**144**years on and his church is still not finished.Antoni Gaudí

**144**years on and his church is still not finished.Antoni Gaudí

**300**bankers said no to Disneyland before one said yes.Walt Disney

**300**bankers said no to Disneyland before one said yes.Walt Disney

**$250M**earned and gone. He fought on past fifty.Evander Holyfield

**$250M**earned and gone. He fought on past fifty.Evander Holyfield

30publishers rejected Carrie before one said yes.Stephen King

30publishers rejected Carrie before one said yes.Stephen King

**292**games lost and 2,795 walks. Also 5,714 strikeouts.Nolan Ryan

**292**games lost and 2,795 walks. Also 5,714 strikeouts.Nolan Ryan

28years banned from the show that made her. He never spoke to her again.Joan Rivers

28years banned from the show that made her. He never spoke to her again.Joan Rivers

40years old, broke, and selling firewood on a street corner.Ulysses S. Grant

40years old, broke, and selling firewood on a street corner.Ulysses S. Grant

**200**rejections over eight years before Roots.Alex Haley

**200**rejections over eight years before Roots.Alex Haley

10years out of boxing. He came back and won the title at 45.George Foreman

10years out of boxing. He came back and won the title at 45.George Foreman

10years dismissed. He drank the bacteria to prove it.Barry Marshall

10years dismissed. He drank the bacteria to prove it.Barry Marshall

10years nobody called him for anything.Brendan Fraser

10years nobody called him for anything.Brendan Fraser

**$800**the price he took for 10% of Apple in 1976.Ronald Wayne

**$800**the price he took for 10% of Apple in 1976.Ronald Wayne

22seasons, more than anyone. No Finals.Vince Carter

22seasons, more than anyone. No Finals.Vince Carter

40years old when he threw out the act that paid the bills.George Carlin

40years old when he threw out the act that paid the bills.George Carlin

50years before geologists accepted continental drift.Alfred Wegener

50years before geologists accepted continental drift.Alfred Wegener

**1,300**pairs of shoes sold from the trunk of his car in year one.Phil Knight

**1,300**pairs of shoes sold from the trunk of his car in year one.Phil Knight

10years of novels nobody bought, written before work every morning.Anthony Trollope

10years of novels nobody bought, written before work every morning.Anthony Trollope

50rejections in a single year, by her own diary count.Sylvia Plath

50rejections in a single year, by her own diary count.Sylvia Plath

**957**in the world after surgery. She won the US Open eleven months later.Sloane Stephens

**957**in the world after surgery. She won the US Open eleven months later.Sloane Stephens

**900**copies sold of The Alchemist. The publisher dropped it.Paulo Coelho

**900**copies sold of The Alchemist. The publisher dropped it.Paulo Coelho

17rejections before The Princess Diaries sold.Meg Cabot

17rejections before The Princess Diaries sold.Meg Cabot

10years working doors and selling drugs in New York before the part.Idris Elba

10years working doors and selling drugs in New York before the part.Idris Elba

**$99B**written off after the AOL and Time Warner merger.Steve Case

**$99B**written off after the AOL and Time Warner merger.Steve Case

35years old, in debt, buried in a common grave.Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

35years old, in debt, buried in a common grave.Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

20years of parts with no name in the credits.Octavia Spencer

20years of parts with no name in the credits.Octavia Spencer

**2,597**strikeouts, the most in baseball history.Reggie Jackson

**2,597**strikeouts, the most in baseball history.Reggie Jackson

13years in an unmarked grave before anyone came looking.Zora Neale Hurston

13years in an unmarked grave before anyone came looking.Zora Neale Hurston

**$35**in her pocket when she got off the bus in New York.Madonna

**$35**in her pocket when she got off the bus in New York.Madonna

30years of rejected grants. Then the vaccine.Katalin Karikó

30years of rejected grants. Then the vaccine.Katalin Karikó

15years shut down, her shops closed, before the comeback at 71.Coco Chanel

15years shut down, her shops closed, before the comeback at 71.Coco Chanel

20years of being told she was too old for the part.Michelle Yeoh

20years of being told she was too old for the part.Michelle Yeoh

**90%**of GoPro's value gone, and two failed startups before it.Nick Woodman

**90%**of GoPro's value gone, and two failed startups before it.Nick Woodman

12publishers rejected Harry Potter before one said yes.J. K. Rowling

12publishers rejected Harry Potter before one said yes.J. K. Rowling

**634**days stranded on the ice. Every one of his men came home.Ernest Shackleton

**634**days stranded on the ice. Every one of his men came home.Ernest Shackleton

**183**Formula One starts, thirteen podiums, no win.Nick Heidfeld

**183**Formula One starts, thirteen podiums, no win.Nick Heidfeld

**$70B**of his own wealth gone in the dot-com crash. He stayed in.Masayoshi Son

**$70B**of his own wealth gone in the dot-com crash. He stayed in.Masayoshi Son

**$250B**the lawsuit that killed his first company.Travis Kalanick

**$250B**the lawsuit that killed his first company.Travis Kalanick

**$735,000**taken off the table when the scan showed no ligament in his arm.R. A. Dickey

**$735,000**taken off the table when the scan showed no ligament in his arm.R. A. Dickey

30shotgun pellets still in his body when he won the Tour again.Greg LeMond

30shotgun pellets still in his body when he won the Tour again.Greg LeMond

**839**in the world after the hip operations. He came back.Andy Murray

**839**in the world after the hip operations. He came back.Andy Murray

**$50M**he walked away from, and ten years of people calling him mad.Dave Chappelle

**$50M**he walked away from, and ten years of people calling him mad.Dave Chappelle

**336**interceptions, more than any quarterback who ever played.Brett Favre

**336**interceptions, more than any quarterback who ever played.Brett Favre

**335**times caught stealing, more than anyone. He stole 1,406 bases.Rickey Henderson

**335**times caught stealing, more than anyone. He stole 1,406 bases.Rickey Henderson

20years he stopped acting, because the phone never rang.Ke Huy Quan

20years he stopped acting, because the phone never rang.Ke Huy Quan

19seasons, the most assists ever, no ring.John Stockton

19seasons, the most assists ever, no ring.John Stockton

50days before the first single, they replaced him.Pete Best

50days before the first single, they replaced him.Pete Best

40patents that made other men rich.Nikola Tesla

40patents that made other men rich.Nikola Tesla

70years old, out of work and out of favour, when he drew Fallingwater.Frank Lloyd Wright

70years old, out of work and out of favour, when he drew Fallingwater.Frank Lloyd Wright

13years of rejections before her first novel.Octavia E. Butler

13years of rejections before her first novel.Octavia E. Butler

**1,330**strikeouts. Nobody remembers those.Babe Ruth

**1,330**strikeouts. Nobody remembers those.Babe Ruth

46years old, and just out of rehab, when the part came.Samuel L. Jackson

46years old, and just out of rehab, when the part came.Samuel L. Jackson

15years as a carpenter between acting jobs.Harrison Ford

15years as a carpenter between acting jobs.Harrison Ford

**$750,000**the price nobody would pay for Google in 1999.Larry Page

**$750,000**the price nobody would pay for Google in 1999.Larry Page

40years old before she stopped showing her face and it worked.Sia

Photos from Wikimedia Commons. The numbers are from their own accounts.

Manifesto

Everyone here has failed at something they cared about. More than once.

We are certain we will make it. That is why we are here.

We share the failures, so the next attempt is better than the last.

Why this exists

I built the room I could not find.

If you have failed at something in the open, you already know the part nobody warns you about. It is not the money and it is not the time. It is the faces.

The relative who asks, in front of everyone, when you are going to be serious. The friend who stops asking how it is going because he does not want to hear the answer. The people who have never put anything of their own on the line, explaining to you what you did wrong. After a while you stop telling people what you are working on, and that is the moment it gets heavy, because now you are carrying it alone.

And you went again anyway. That is the part they never see. Anybody can start something while the room is cheering. Starting again after the room has gone quiet, and after being laughed at for the last one, takes something most people never have to find out whether they have. You found out. You have it.

I spent years assuming I was built wrong for wanting this life. I was not. There are thousands of us, in different countries and different trades, and we are terrible at finding each other, because the thing we share is not a job title. It is a way of thinking: we would rather try and be wrong in the open than be safe and quiet, and we count the attempts instead of hiding them.

So I stopped waiting to bump into them. This is the room. Everyone in it has been where you are, and nobody here is going to ask you when you plan to be serious.

JoséLisbon · founder

Who it is for

Anyone chasing something that has not worked yet.

A business, a race, a book, a record, an exam, a body. The count works the same in every arena.

#failures

Rui · 4×

Luís · 7×

Your number
Day one post

For you if

You tried, in public or in private, and it did not work. At least once.
You are going to try again, and you want people around who get it.
You can write three lines about what failed without dressing it up.

Not for you if

You want to sell your course, your service or your app to the group.
You only want to vent, and do nothing afterwards.
You have never failed at anything. Good for you, but the conversation will not make sense.

How it works

Three things. That is the whole server.

Members

Online · 3

MMarta · 2×

RRui · 4×you

TTomás · 11×

Say your number

Name · N×. N is how many times you have failed at your project. It goes up, never down.

#failures

Rui · 4×today at 23:14

The bakery closed again. The oven broke in week two and there was no cash for the repair. Count goes to 5.

🧱 4🔁 6

Share the failures

In #failures, when they happen. What you tried, where it broke. Nobody lectures you back.

#wins

Rui · 5×today at 08:02

The bakery opened. Five attempts, seven years. Count frozen at 5.

🏁 31✅ 12

🏆 Winner

Post the win

In #wins, the day it works. The count freezes and you become a Winner.

Thursdays, 21:00 Lisbon. Round table in the voice room, five minutes each. Where I got stuck this week.

The count

The number next to your name is how many times you have failed.

It goes up every time an attempt fails. It is not shame. It is mileage.

See how you would look inside

Your name, and how many times you have failed at your project.

Your name · __×username

Failures, counted

Type a number and they get scratched in here.

Roles

LoserPortugal

Rules

Five. Short.

Break one, you get a warning. Twice, you are out.

1Say the real number.Seven is seven.

2One project at a time.Change it when it fails, and say so.

3Write what you did.Not what you plan to do.

4No pep talks, no selling.Questions and answers. No courses, no links to what you sell.

5Show up.Going quiet for weeks without a word is the one thing we remove people for.

Join

Six questions. An answer in 24 hours.

Free. One of us reads it. If we say yes, the email has your invite.

Apply to join

Questions

Before you join.

Short answers. If yours is not here, write to us on Instagram and we answer the same day.

Ask on Instagram