Failing Upward

12 September 2007 4 Comments

I’m always amazed by people who fail upward. It happens in all types of jobs, I suppose. But it seems to be more prevalent in entertainment and sports. Don’t confuse failing upward with a “comeback” or “persistence” or anything like that. Failing upward is getting a better job (or a better movie, book, record deal) after totally blowing it on the previous one.

Take for example today’s announcement by Harper Collins that they will publish James Frey’s next novel. I say “next” novel because that steaming pile of “nonfiction” he gave us a few years ago turned out to be mostly fabricated. Oprah went from falling all over this guy to apologizing to her viewers. What result of being panned by Oprah on afternoon slack TV? Another book deal. You will just have to look for him in a different part of Borders. That’s failing upward.

A few years back, Mike Barnacle plagiarized or flat out fabricated stories at the Boston Herald. You would think no serious news outlet would give this guy a job delivering the news, let alone writing it. Think again! He went straight to the NY Daily News and the Boston Herald. Now, he fills in for Chris Mathews on Hardball and is seen regularly on other MSNBC shows. Again, that’s failing upward.

Failing upward in sports…

Norv Turner: How does he keep getting head coaching jobs?

Cam Cameron: “Better and better…” Any long suffering IU fan knows that phrase all too well. Soon, Dolphin fans will hear it in their nightmares. He set the IU program back 20 years. As for his supposed offensive genius in the NFL… please, I could have coached the Chargers last year. It’s as easy as giving the ball to LT and praying he doesn’t get hurt. That strategy is good for 10+ wins if you, me, Homer Simpson, or one of my turtles is coaching.

Entertainment:

William Hung: This guy took a train wreck into a new career. American Karaoke turns out stars and Hungs. Both make a lot of bad music and a lot of money.

Okay, I’ve given you some examples. Now send me yours. I don’t even care if they are not celebs or sports stars. Help me create a database of the cosmically unqualified. I’m sure I’m going to be on it soon.

Carry on, Citizens!

PS Lyric of the day: “I saw a werewolf drinking a Pina Colada at Trader Vicks. His hair was perfect.” — Warren Zevon. (I laugh every time I hear it.)

About The Author
Jeff Stanger is an author, talk show host, professional fundraiser, and the answer to several obscure trivia questions. He writes for food and occasionally for spite.

4 Comments »

Matt said:

What is equally, if not more, amazing are failed-failures: Failures that fail to make ANY changes. Those who fail *continuously* and yet go nowhere. I don’t mean disappear (or go to “Bolivia” in the case of Mike Tyson). I mean just do it (whatever it is that they do badly) again (and again, and again). (PS: I find myself with a glut of parenthetical phrases and need to use them up by the end of the fiscal quarter).

Examples of failed failures:
- Professional Wrestling (WWF, WWE, whatever it is in it’s current rendition).
- Chuck Norris (how many BAD movies can possibly be made before somebody says: “Hey, let’s try something different – maybe use an ACTOR next time.”)
- Grand Government Initiatives: “Here’s a GREAT idea! Let’s just ask the federal government to fix the ______. With all the bureaucracy and confusion, I bet this is a perfect fit for their creative solutions.”

# 13 September 2007 at 6:03 am