Successful Failure

Lessons Learned Flat on My Face

By: Kevin Fredericks

Narrated by: Kevin Fredericks

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Being successful is no laughing matter . . . unless the road there is littered with flops, fool’s errands, fizzles, and straight-up failures—from the New York Times bestselling co-author of Marriage Be Hard.

“I’m so happy Kev failed, because these stories will set so many free from perfection!”—Tabitha Brown, bestselling author of Feeding the Soul

Kevin Fredericks (aka KevOnStage) is a viral stand-up star, an NAACP Image Award–winning comedian, the founder of KevOnStage Studios, a New York Times bestselling author, and a superstar on social media. But his path to success wasn’t always smooth. As a kid, Kevin noticed something useful: If he made people laugh, the grown-ups would let him stay up late. In church plays, his commitment to the role of Goliath led to a busted lip, and the audience couldn’t get enough. He dreamed of becoming a performer, of finding that big break that would launch him into the bright lights of pop culture fame. But as he soon found, the road to the life we want is longer, weirder, more embarrassing, and more entertaining than we think it will be.

In Successful Failure, the comedian recounts hilarious stories and sincere insight from his adventures (and misadventures) trying to make it in life. From performing under an alias to avoid getting fired from his suit-and-tie day job to breaking a chair onstage and quitting stand-up for six months, from pooping his pants on a bus next to his future wife to starting a clothing line called Dreams Don’t Die (they sure do if the merch doesn’t sell), Kevin reminds readers that while we might not be The Rock, Warren Buffett, or Kevin Hart, we’re all out here trying, and that’s okay.

Laugh-out-loud in one moment and perceptive in the next, Successful Failure is a wild ride from one of America’s funniest comics and a sendup of our ideals around hustle culture and success.

Critic reviews

“I’m so happy Kev failed, because these stories will set so many free from perfection!”—Tabitha Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Feeding the Soul

“As someone who’s caught quite a few Ls myself on my own journey to success (and is still catching them!), I relate to Kev’s hysterical honesty, bold transparency, and earnest desire for readers to learn from his mistakes as they fulfill their dreams. There’s wishful thinking and there’s practical application—Successful Failure offers both (but HEAVY on the practical . . . and we thank Kev for it!)”—Yvonne Orji, actor, comedian, and author of Bamboozled by Jesus

“Failure is often funny. Especially when Kev fails. So get this book. You’re going to learn some things, laugh, and find out that you can’t be scared to fail out here.”—Tony Baker, actor and comedian

“Fredericks’s . . . affable tone and can-do attitude bolster his valuable advice to view one’s career in less binary terms—‘Failure isn’t the end, but neither is success,’ he contends, describing personal growth and fulfillment as the real payoff. The result is an upbeat encouragement for readers to pick themselves up and try again.”—Publishers Weekly

It was honest, funny, emotional and educational

Appreciate the vulnerability and transparency within this book. The comedy kept it going to where it didn’t feel like I was listening to a book but more having a conversation. Great book!

A Personal Touch

I got the Audible version. It was nice to hear Kevin’s words in his voice and manner speaking.

Very Funny

Stories told in true Kevin form. I was laughing and crying. But I also absorbed some wisdom.

Triumph

Grateful for the lessons KevOnStage explained in this book. Hearing it in his voice is a great experience as well. May God continue to bless and cover his family and friends as they inspire the world.

Funny, entertaining, and inspiring

I follow Kev on social media and happy to say that he delivers his usual humor and great storytelling in his audiobook, with a healthy dose of lessons learned from his failures. Enjoyable listen that I highly recommend.