Embracing failure: lessons from Patricia Ceysens

Patricia Ceysens is no stranger to leadership and innovation. As a former Flemish minister, she made a name for herself in politics, championing technology and entrepreneurship. But after years in public service, Ceysens shifted her focus to the world of startups, founding WeWatt, a company that blends technology, sustainability, and creativity by creating energy-generating furniture. These bikes, often found in public spaces such as airports, allow users to charge their devices by pedaling, embodying the concept of green energy in an accessible and engaging way.

Despite her extensive experience in politics and innovation, Ceysens' entrepreneurial journey has not been without its challenges. As the founder of WeWatt, she faced the same hurdles that all startups do — uncertainty, setbacks, and, of course, failure. However, it’s her approach to failure that sets her apart. Drawing on both her political and entrepreneurial careers, Ceysens has developed a unique perspective on failure, seeing it not as a roadblock, but as a stepping stone to success.

In her journey from government offices to startup meetings, Ceysens has learned that failure is an integral part of the entrepreneurial process. For her, failure is not something to be feared or avoided; it’s an opportunity for growth and learning.

“Failure is a continuum,” she explains. “It’s an offer that doesn’t convert into a sale, a shipment that goes wrong, or a supplier who can’t deliver. The trick is not to experience these things as failure but as opportunities to improve.” Ceysens sees failure as an inherent part of the entrepreneurial experience, something to be sliced into manageable pieces, much like a salami. By reframing failure in this way, it doesn’t become overwhelming. Instead, it becomes part of the journey.

For Ceysens, one of the most important lessons is to maintain a balance between persistence and adaptability. “You have to be open-minded and ready to pivot quickly,” she says. “Failing fast is good, as long as you learn from it. But at the same time, you need to be careful of burnout. Constant change can lead to fatigue, and that’s something every entrepreneur needs to watch out for.”

Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm - Winston Churchill

This constant need to adapt and pivot, particularly when things aren’t going well, is a common thread in many startups. WeWatt’s early days were no different. “We thought we had to go through a phase of trials before sales would come, but in the office, that wasn’t working at all. We stopped quickly when we realized it wasn’t going anywhere,” Ceysens reflects. “You have to fail quickly and pivot.”

She also points out that sometimes, as entrepreneurs, we push ourselves too hard. “We’ve had moments where ‘good enough’ didn’t feel sufficient, even though it was,” she admits. Striving for perfection can be a dangerous trap. It’s important to recognize when something is good enough, to avoid unnecessary risks that could sink the business. This delicate balance—knowing when to push through and when to pivot—is a key challenge every entrepreneur faces.

What sets Ceysens apart is her perspective on where the real joy in entrepreneurship lies. “The pleasure and drive need to come from the journey, not the destination,” she says. For her, focusing too much on the end goal can lead to disappointment. When you’re in it for the process, failure becomes a part of the learning experience and something that can be embraced rather than feared.

Ceysens’ advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is clear: learn to accept failure as a natural part of the process. It doesn’t mean the end; it’s simply a signal to pivot, to try something new, or to tweak what you’re already doing. “You can’t avoid failure, but you can choose how to react to it. That’s where real growth happens.”

For entrepreneurs, especially in tech startups, this mindset is crucial. The journey will be filled with ups and downs, but by embracing failure as part of the process and pivoting quickly when necessary, entrepreneurs can navigate the rocky terrain of building a business with resilience and persistence.

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