Freakonomics Radio

How to Succeed at Failing, Part 4: Extreme Resiliency (Update)

354 snips
May 21, 2025
In this discussion, Gary Klein, a cognitive psychologist known for his work on wicked problems, and Theresa MacPhail, a medical anthropologist focused on pandemics, dive into the intricate lessons failure can teach us. They explore tuberculosis as a contemporary challenge, emphasizing its underestimated threat. The duo highlights the power of pre-mortems in decision-making, advocating for openness to failure in organizations. They also discuss resilience in entrepreneurship, illustrating how the Museum of Failure enables learning and growth from setbacks.
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ANECDOTE

Alto’s Rideshare Innovation

  • Will Coleman launched Alto, a rideshare with W2 employees and company vehicles for consistent quality.
  • He aims for accessible luxury, competing directly against Uber and Lyft in major US cities.
ADVICE

Prepare to Pivot with Pre-Mortems

  • Run pre-mortems regularly to inject reality checks and prepare to pivot your business when needed.
  • Build resilience by anticipating necessary adaptations early.
ANECDOTE

Startup Leader Rejects Pre-Mortems

  • Will Coleman rejects pre-mortems, focusing instead on moving forward and seeking incremental progress.
  • He views frequent failure as an expected part of building a startup from scratch.
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