The failure library
A rejection always names what would have counted. This is the catalogue: mission by mission, the proof that came in, the reason it failed and the move that fixes it.
Written by the game master from its own rules, not yet by players. When players start getting rejected, their proof replaces these, anonymised.
Act I · Mission I
One sentence: what you sell, who pays you, how much.
Proof
RejectedI sell coaching to people who want more out of life, for a fair price.
“People who want more out of life” is not a payer, and “a fair price” is not a number.
Name one person you could call this week, and the price you would ask. Resubmit.
Proof
RejectedA platform connecting local artisans with buyers, monetised through commission.
You described a business model, not a sale. Nobody hands money to a connection.
Name what one artisan or one buyer pays you, and how much. Resubmit.
Proof
RejectedI sell handmade ceramic mugs to people who like ceramics, for €30.
The thing and the price are clear. “People who like ceramics” is everyone and nobody.
Name where you would find your next three buyers by name. Resubmit.
Proof
RejectedI want to help small businesses with their social media.
“I want to help” is an intention, and “small businesses” is 300 million of them.
Write it as a sale: what you deliver, to which kind of business, for how much. Resubmit.
Act I · Mission II
Get five people who do not know you to say they would pay.
Proof
RejectedA screenshot of 40 likes on my post about the idea.
Likes are not replies, and nobody in that screenshot was shown a price.
Ask five people directly, with the number in the message. Resubmit.
Proof
RejectedThree friends and my brother said they would definitely buy it.
Your brother is not a stranger. He is protecting your feelings, and it works.
Ask five people who have never met you. Resubmit.
Proof
Rejected12 people filled in my survey and 80% said they were interested.
“Interested” is not “I would pay €40”. A survey is where a yes goes to hide.
Message five of those 12 with the price and ask for a yes or a no. Resubmit.
Proof
Rejected“Great idea, let me know when it launches.”
That is a polite no. It commits nothing, names no price and costs them nothing.
Reply asking whether they would pay €40 today. Then send four more. Resubmit.
Proof
RejectedI posted in 6 groups and got 2 replies, both positive.
Two is not five, and “positive” does not tell the game master what they agreed to.
Get three more, and show the message where each of them saw the price. Resubmit.
Act I · Mission III
Put up one page that can take money.
Proof
RejectedHere is my Notion page describing the service.
No price and no way to pay. That is a description, not a page that takes money.
Add one price and one payment button, then send the link again. Resubmit.
Proof
Rejectedfigma.com/file/… — the design is finished.
A mockup is a drawing of a page. Nothing on a drawing can be paid.
Publish anything public with a working payment button. Ugly is allowed. Resubmit.
Proof
RejectedThe site is live, I am still deciding the price.
A page without a price cannot take money, and deciding is not part of this mission.
Pick the price you quoted the strangers, put it on the page. Resubmit.
Proof
RejectedWaitlist is up and 6 people have signed up already.
An email field is not a checkout. You collected interest, which you already had.
Replace the email field with a price and a payment button. Resubmit.
Proof
RejectedIt is live but the checkout is in test mode.
Test mode cannot receive money from a stranger, so the page cannot pass this mission.
Switch the key to live, pay yourself €1, refund it, send the link. Resubmit.
Act II — the boss fight · Mission IV
Get one stranger to pay you €1 or more.
Proof
RejectedThey said they will pay on Friday.
Friday is not a receipt. Nothing has moved, and the mission ends when money arrives.
Send the payment link and ask them to press it now. Resubmit.
Proof
RejectedI paid myself €1 to check that the checkout works.
That is your own name on the receipt, which is the one name that cannot count.
Send the link to a stranger who already said yes to the price. Resubmit.
Proof
RejectedInvoice sent, waiting on their finance team.
An invoice is a request. A stranger has not paid you until the money lands.
Offer a card link for the same amount so it can clear today. Resubmit.
Proof
RejectedMy friend bought one to support me. Real €40, real receipt.
Your friend bought you, not the thing. That is a gift with a receipt attached.
Sell the same thing at the same price to somebody who does not know you. Resubmit.
Proof
RejectedSomeone paid, then I refunded them because it was not ready.
The payment happened, and then you undid it. Nothing is on your record but a refund.
Deliver something rough to the next payer, and keep the money. Resubmit.
Act I is open
Most sentences are rejected the first time. That is the game working, not you failing.