Fail Fast, Succeed Faster: How to Build a Thriving Business with Priscilla Presley
Why Failing Fast is the Key to Entrepreneurial Success
Launching a business can feel like stepping into the unknown, but according to Priscilla Presley, co-founder of Forward Female, success isn’t about perfection—it’s about failing fast. As she explains in her interview on Heal Squad with Maria Menounos, failing quickly allows you to adjust and pivot without clinging to a rigid strategy that might not work.
“Failing fast is something that I always tell anybody that I work with because the idea is not perfection—it can never be. We want to fail faster than anybody else out there because we don’t want to have this slow death of clinging to an idea that just isn’t working.”
The Power of Personal Branding
Your brand is not just a logo or a website—it’s what people say about you when you’re not in the room. Presley emphasizes that everyone is a brand, whether you realize it or not. She and her team at Forward Female, a business coaching and creative agency for female entrepreneurs, help women create a brand identity that is authentic and aligned with their vision.
“Your brand is your identity. If you don’t know who you are and what you stand for, it’s hard to expect others to understand it.”
She also highlights the importance of evolving with your brand, making necessary pivots as your audience and business grow.
How to Fail Fast and Pivot Effectively
Many aspiring entrepreneurs hold back out of fear of failure, but Presley believes that embracing small failures early on is the best way to avoid larger mistakes down the road.
Here’s how to fail fast and pivot successfully:
- Recognize failure quickly – Don’t waste time forcing something that isn’t working.
- Analyze why it didn’t work – What lessons can you learn from this setback?
- Try again with adjustments – Use data and insights to tweak your strategy.
- Keep an open mind – Being flexible allows you to see new opportunities that might have been overlooked.
At Forward Female, Presley and her team have a weekly learning lesson sheet where they document mistakes, analyze them, and ensure they don’t happen again.
The Ultimate Pivot: Turning a Business Crisis Into Opportunity
Before the pandemic, Forward Female operated as a physical co-working space in Los Angeles, helping women launch businesses through in-person coaching and networking. When COVID-19 hit, they were forced to close their doors. But rather than seeing this as a loss, Presley and her team pivoted—overnight—to a fully digital platform, allowing them to serve women globally.
“We went from working with women just in Los Angeles to helping women in Canada, Mexico, France, Australia—it was a blessing in disguise.”
This ability to pivot quickly, rather than getting stuck in the disappointment of a lost business model, is what made Forward Female stronger and more scalable than ever.
Finding Your Purpose and Taking the Leap
If you’re feeling stuck in a job that isn’t fulfilling, Presley advises taking the leap—even if you don’t have everything figured out.
Three key takeaways for aspiring entrepreneurs:
- You don’t need a perfect plan to start. Presley herself left her corporate jobs with no roadmap but trusted her instincts.
- Surround yourself with the right people. Having mentors and accountability partners can make all the difference.
- Stay obsessed with your vision. If you’re not excited about your business, it will be hard for others to be.
Building a Business That Works for You
For those looking to create a personal brand or launch a business, Presley recommends starting with a clear strategy and support system. Forward Female offers coaching, branding, and website design services to help women navigate entrepreneurship with confidence.
“You deserve to go after your dreams. You just need the right people in your corner to help guide you through the process.”
To learn more about Forward Female and their business coaching services, visit forwardfemale.com.
For more healing and wellness tips, be sure to subscribe to the Heal Squad with Maria Menounos podcast via YouTube or Apple Podcasts.
