Let me tell you something about myself. Something I’ve come to embrace over the years.

I have no real talents. Not a one. Zip. Nada.

And yet, here I am—15 years deep into a career as a project manager, still standing (well, mostly sitting), and somehow considered successful.

I Am a Consistent Failure

Being a project manager is like running a marathon where the finish line keeps moving and occasionally bursts into flames. No matter how meticulously you plan, something always goes sideways.

There’s a harsh truth to project management: it’s hard. You can try to foresee every possible disaster, but eventually, reality will find a way to kick you in the shins. And, spoiler alert—I still struggle with it. After 15 years, I’m still fumbling my way through, nearly on a daily basis.

I’d love to tell you project management is all glamorous team wins and perfectly executed plans. Sometimes, it is. But more often, it’s anything but. So how do I keep going, you ask? How does this self-professed talentless wonder manage to keep it together?

The Big Secret

Maybe I do have one talent. Just one.

I keep showing up.

I keep trying.

Even when I fail—especially when I fail—I just keep going.

That’s my superpower. It’s the thing I’m secretly proud of. And I believe it’s the reason I’ve managed to hang around long enough to call myself successful.

The Dropout Theory

Here’s my theory: most people drop out just before their biggest success. They give up right before the breakthrough. And the truth is, if you just stay in the game long enough, success becomes inevitable.

If you’re a fan of Survivor, you know the old motto: “Outwit. Outplay. Outlast.” Let me tell you, the first two are tough. Outwitting people requires being clever and sharp, but even if you pull it off once, doing it consistently is a tall order. Outplaying them? That means assuming you’re inherently better, faster, or smarter than everyone else. Which, let’s be real, is unlikely unless you’re a unicorn (spoiler: you’re probably not).

But outlasting? Now, that’s something we can all do.

A Consistent Failure

The beauty of consistent failure is that it shortens the feedback loop. When you try, fail, learn, and then try again (on repeat), you’re speeding up the process of figuring out what you’re actually good at. While others are too afraid to take risks or fail, you’re out there collecting valuable data on yourself.

That’s how a numbers-obsessed engineer/project manager like me discovered a love for writing—something completely unrelated to my formal training. Failure, it turns out, is the most reliable career advisor you’ll ever have.

Failure Builds Confidence (No, Really)

We’ve all been taught that failure is the confidence killer. Fail, and your self-worth will spiral into a pit of despair. But here’s the twist: failure can actually make you more confident—if you learn to embrace it.

Every time I fail, I learn one undeniable truth: I survived. I did it. I failed spectacularly, yet here I am, still breathing, still moving. The more I failed, the less power that fear of failure held over me. Now, when I’m facing a new challenge, I’m not terrified of failure because I know even if I bomb, I’ll be okay. I’ve done it before, I’ll do it again.

Failure Makes You a Better Leader

Let’s be honest: no one likes working for a boss who’s never tasted failure. People who coast from success to success tend to have a… let’s say, limited perspective on what it’s like to struggle.

When you’ve failed (a lot), you become empathetic to the challenges others face. As a leader, that means you’re better equipped to support your team during tough times. You get it. You’ve been there. You’re not just spouting motivational quotes; you actually know what it’s like to be in the trenches.

Failure Improves Problem-Solving

Every failure brings a new set of problems—and a chance to figure out a solution. With each setback, you gain more insight. You start thinking differently, exploring unconventional solutions, and sharpening your critical thinking. Your failures build a mental toolbox filled with creativity, resilience, and adaptability—skills that are pure gold, not just in your career, but in life.

Wrap Up

So, what’s the moral of the story here? You don’t need to be born with genius-level talent to succeed. You just need to outlast the competition. Fail often. Fail hard. Learn fast. And most importantly, keep going.

Talent is overrated. Perseverance? Now that’s where the magic happens.