Michael Jordan "Failure" Nike Commercial
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN invokes it as the classic illustration of learning through repeated failure and iterating, often in startup threads.
What it is
A Nike commercial in which Michael Jordan lists the shots he missed and games he lost, saying that repeated failure is the reason he succeeds.
Recommended by 2 HN commenters across 2 different months, 2010 to 2016.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec edanm · 2011-06 · on “The end of Facebook”
(Even more off-topic) You really reminded me of Jordan's "Failure" commercial, which everyone should see: [this video]
Recommends jathu · 2016-04 · on “Every shot Kobe Bryant ever took”
Reminds me of the Jordan commercial [1] where he mentions he lost more than 9000 shots in his career, lost almost 300 games and missed 26 game winning shots. Amazing commercial (like most Nike commercials). [1] [this video]
Cites harscoat · 2010-08 · on “Ask HN: Do you have any startup related regrets? Epic failures?”
I failed Zden.com in 2002 (launched in 2000). Regrets turned into positive(?) lessons (I hope one day I can say that). * When you are doomed, you are doomed. Better to start over than try to fix. If there is good chance that the reason why you do not get traction is mono-dimensional (eg. just the UI or (exclusive) just performance...), it seems ok to go on & try to tweak it, but if you it is multidimensional (several reasons) (Technology, management, wrong market assumptions), then pull the plug ASAP. I did not have the guts to cut 3 fingers, so reality took my arm. * Even if others "co-founders", I was alone (CEO with masteroftheuniverse equity stake), I had just came back from a 99 boiling
Cites andreyf · 2010-08 · on “Steve Jobs explains branding”
The strategy behind both Nike's and Apple's branding is much further expounded on in a great film called Art & Copy. I highly recommend it. Nike's message is "just do it". It isn't about hanging out with athletes, it's appreciating aspiration and athleticism of all stripes [1]. Nike is a dominant enough clothing brand that they benefit from encouraging general athleticism. Their products are barely present in their branding, if at all. Apple's message is (and has been) to "think different" and "we're here to help you change the world for the better". Sure, it appeals to the rebellious youth in people, but it also appeals to scientists, artists, and philosophers in search of new paradigms to
Cites jw84 · 2010-09 · on “How do I write so much, you ask? Well, glad you asked”
Geeky way of saying a million monkeys at a typewriter. This is Michael Jordan's philosophy: [this video] Ira Glass believes that some people start out producing work that isn't as good or match their good taste. It's after a lot of work, trial and error, and mistakes that the disparity between your good taste and your good work match up. Be patient, keep trying, be confidant. I should have joined a football team.
Cites whatusername · 2011-01 · on ““OK, but there are two rules…””
It depends on what extreme you take it to. For the classic sports example: [this video] Fail Fast can also be seen as: Perform, get feedback, perform slightly better, get more feedback, iterate until perfect.
Cites ronilan · 2016-04 · on “CV of Failures [pdf]”
You failed to link to the original commercial and instead linked to a remake :) ( [this video] Uploaded on Aug 25, 2006)