Failing is OK

Microsoft is one of the most successful companies in history, creating three billionaires and 12,000 millionaires among its employees. But the company has had some major design flops. Fast Company magazine (October 2012) lists a few:

Bob. Remember Bob? Released in 1995 Bob, was a software product designed to make it easier to use the computer. Bob featured a cartoon character named Rover the Dog who would exclaim, "Looky! Camper” and try to explain everything. Bob was "childish, convoluted, ridiculous, [and] despised,” according to Fast Company. Even Microsoft executive Steve Ballmer said Bob was an example of a situation where Microsoft "decided that we have not succeeded and let's stop.” Please.

Office Assistant. This program came out just two years later, in 1997. It featured an animated character named Clippy who would tap at the screen and try to guess what you were working on. Clippy always smiled and cheerfully offered to help, even if you were working on a funeral service. Clippy drew intensely negative responses from many users. Even its creator called it "one of the most annoying characters in history.” Although Office Assistant has been replaced, Clippy lives on. In an episode of the television show Family Guy, Stewie sneaks into CIA headquarters and uses one of its computers. He becomes annoyed when Clippy appears on the screen and says, "I see you're trying to take over the world. Can I help?” Stewie yells, "Go away, you paper clip! No one likes you!” Poor Clippy. A major design flop.

The list goes on to include the famous "Blue Screen of Death” and Windows Vista 2007, which was such a mess that some people thought good old Bob was hiding inside. But let's not pick on Microsoft -- every company has its flops, including many incredibly successful corporations. Apple is often given credit for excellent design, but do you remember its personal computer "Lisa” from the early 1980s? Most people don't. It was a commercial failure. And, of course, you remember the recent debacle with the introduction of its latest iPhone and the problem with the GPS map app.

Henry Ford was a genius at designing supply chains and assembly lines. His cheap, reliable Model A and Model T cars became instant, iconic symbols of the automobile age. Yet, Ford failed to understand that consumers were looking for something just a bit more attractive than his drab, boxy, utilitarian vehicles. Someone once asked him if he had ever consider producing cars in different colors, to which he cheerfully responded by saying he would make cars in any color, as long as it is black. That cavalier attitude cost his company a big chunk of its once-dominant market share. Competing auto manufacturers did not limit themselves to "any color as long as it is black.” They ate Ford's lunch. Eventually, even the Ford Motor Company came 'round and began paying attention to how their cars looked. They began manufacturing them in a variety of body shapes and colors. For such a great designer of factories, Henry Ford proved to be not such a good designer of cars the next generation of consumers actually wanted.

If you have tried something new, and it did not work, it is not a sign to stop. It is time to let go and move forward.