Art of Failure Steve Friedman

Get a peek into the viral sensation, the Museum of Failure. The museum is a collection of over 100 failed products and services from around the world, items like Colgate Lasagna. What can we learn from these products? The museum’s founder Dr. Samuel West said the museum provides a unique insight into the risky business of innovation.

We spoke to Dr. Samuel West. He talked about why he started the Museum of Failure, and his own very personal struggles with failure, which include filing for bankruptcy.

When Kwame Onwuachi was 26 he had already experienced more career highs and lows than chefs twice his age. He competed on the TV series, “Top Chef,” and opened his own restaurant—The Shaw Bijou when he was 25.  The restaurant was one of the most anticipated openings in the country and it closed after 11 weeks. How did Kwame recover after such a public failure? In his new book, Notes from a Young Black Chef, Kwame talked about how he rebounded from that failure, and delved into his childhood.

When Brian Scudamore was 19 years old he was in a McDonalds parking lot trying to figure out how to pay for college. He saw a dirty pick-up truck advertising a junk removal service. Realizing that he could pay for college by hauling junk, Brian invested $700 in his own junk-removal-service. With that initial investment, he built an unlikely empire: 1-800-Got-Junk. He's a regular contributor to Forbes and has a new book out, called WTF?! (Willing to Fail): How Failure Can Be Your Key to Success.

Why you should always check the fine print before checking out...

We spoke to Carlos Dengler, an actor, writer, musician and a former member of the band Interpol, that has produced several critically acclaimed albums.

Carlos left the band in 2010. He is an actor, writer and musician. He is working on a forthcoming memoir which will be a series of essays about his youth, his views on culture, and his experience as a  “famous rock star turned acting student.” 

Steve was at a casting call when a friend and agent begged him to audition for another commercial. She said it was a national campaign, he'd make a ton of money...it was an ad for Viagra.