MY FAILURE CAKE

@eileenxyang

120.5K followers · usually 6.4K views a post

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19.3K

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2.2K

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Why it worked

The creator uses a relatable and visually engaging "failure cake" to share personal setbacks, which resonates with viewers who may be experiencing similar challenges. The message that "everything you'll see online is someone's highlight reel" is a powerful and timely reminder that combats social comparison.

Summary

The creator shares a cake decorated with "failure" flags, representing rejections, personal struggles, and setbacks in their academic and professional life. They use these experiences to convey that online portrayals are often curated and that setbacks are a part of the journey towards success.

Structure

1Introducing the "failure cake"
2Listing personal rejections and struggles
3Discussing academic and app development setbacks
4Reflecting on slow social media growth
5Concluding that failures lead to success
6Reminding viewers that online life is a highlight reel

On-screen text

MY FAILURE CAKE 5 rejections/L's people don't post about get ghosted by a big tech company ...& amex... & bofa still haven't found a friend group adjustment disorder & severe depressive mood gpa dropped to 3.4 didn't launch the app I said I would... 2x launch months to scrap out again year creation barely half grew is closer success here's that everything is so real someone's highs

Original caption

congrats on ur failure, it means you’re trying ;) 🥳#mindsetmotivation

More from @eileenxyang

Their other posts in the index, biggest breakout first.

Transcript

I'm a rising college senior and I've gotten ghosted by every corporate final round interview I've ever had. Still haven't found a friend group. I was diagnosed with adjustment disorder and severe depressive mood and had to go to therapy for six months. My GPA dropped to 3.4. I said I was going to launch an app several months ago and had to redesign it and scrap it twice and went through two co-founders, but it didn't work out, so I'm rebuilding it again. Almost year three of content creation, but this year barely grew half the followers I grew my very first year. The beautiful thing is all of these are going to bring me closer to success and it means that I'm trying. And here's that subtle reminder that literally everything you'll see online is someone's highlight reel, so stop comparing your real life to someone's highs. If someone looks like they have it all figured out, they do not.