When we create something, our first goal is simple: build a product that works. We focus on features, design, and stability. But we often forget that success is more than just that. A product must grow and adapt, and for it to evolve, the people who build it must evolve too.
The story of your project isn't just about the product itself. It's the story of the skills you gained along the way. Failure isn't a dead end; it's a chance to learn, improve, and drive true evolution.
Product and Knowledge
A bug, a bad feature, or a project that didn't work out isn't a final stop. It's an event that pushes you to go further. When a problem shows up, your first reaction is to fix it so the product becomes stable again. But by doing this, you gain new knowledge. Every technical failure is a chance to get better. You learn how to find the cause of a bug, how to better understand the code, or how to think in a new way. These lessons are what make you stronger for the next challenge. The product gets better, and so do your skills.
The Art of Looking Back
While fixing bugs is important, the most valuable professionals learn to prevent problems before they even happen. True wisdom comes from knowing when to take a step back before building something new. You have to ask a simple, critical question: "Is this the right thing to build?" This means you must challenge the need behind every request, and not just build what's asked.
The key to creating real value and ROI is to understand the user. Don't just listen to the request; dig deeper to understand the user's real problem. Talk to them, watch what they do, and get to the heart of their needs. When you understand the user, you can build a solution that truly solves their problem, making your work count for something more than just a task on a list.
How to Talk About It
In an interview, recruiters don't want to hear a list of flawless successes. They are looking for people who can handle problems. Talking about your failures shows your intellectual honesty and your ability to learn. It's also your chance to prove you can think beyond just the code.
To do this, tell your story in a few clear steps. Describe the problem with the product directly: "Our new feature slowed the site down." Then, explain the lesson you learned and the new skills you gained: "I spent time analyzing the code and learned how to better manage the database." Finally, show how that experience made you a more valuable professional who now takes a step back to challenge needs and ensure you're always creating something that provides real value. The goal is to show that every experience had a purpose—that it helped your product evolve, and, most importantly, helped you grow.