Telling the Whole Story: How to Share Past Failures in Your Company History Book
January 5, 2026
Is it weird to talk about the company’s past failures in our history book? We want to be honest, but not… humiliating. — Legacy with Lumps
Dear Legacy with Lumps,
Not only is it not weird to talk about past failures, it’s wise.
Every enduring company has stumbled. What matters isn’t the misstep itself but how you handled it. In fact, acknowledging those tougher moments in your company’s history can build trust, show resilience, and give your story real depth.
Think about the memoirs or documentaries you admire most. The ones that resonate are honest. They don’t just celebrate the highlights—they show the grit behind the growth.
The same goes for a company history book. Your audience (employees, customers, future leaders) wants more than a curated timeline of triumphs. They want to understand how you became who you are. And let’s be honest—no one becomes great without a few hard lessons.
That said, honesty doesn’t have to be humiliating. There’s a difference between vulnerability and self-sabotage.
The key is to frame those moments with perspective and purpose.
Did a bad expansion teach you something about your core mission? Did a leadership shake-up lead to a cultural reset? That’s not failure—it’s transformation. The story isn’t “we messed up”; it’s “we learned, adapted, and got better.”
Handled with care, candor can actually become one of your brand’s strongest assets.
People don’t relate to perfection. They relate to perseverance. So go ahead and share those bumps in the road. Just make sure you also share where the road led you.
With respect for the whole journey,
