Surviving failure

Failure, that overused word that scares people, is, in my opinion, the path that leads to success, to victory, to live.

According to Larousse, failure is the negative result of an attempt, of an undertaking, lack of success; defeat, failure, setback: to suffer a failure. In my opinion, failure is a stage that one must undergo in order to achieve one’s goals.

Since I was very young, I’ve had to deal with this word, which has haunted me for a long time! I was so afraid of failure that I spent my time moving towards it. Surviving and living unbearable and unreal experiences. Four years ago, in 2018, I had to make a firm decision: stop KODD Group or stop torturing myself and embracing failure.

I took big risks… One of the first things I did was to step out of my comfort zone by writing the open letter “So what’s next ?“. Opening myself up to the world by presenting myself to the world.

Angela, at that time, a young woman of 24 years of age, finally taking responsibility for herself! An entrepreneur full of ideas, the creator and founder of KODD Group. When I created KODD Magazine in 2012, I didn’t think that in 2022, this media imagined by a young teenager would be so appreciated.

I didn’t think that KODD Group would be collaborating with big international brands… That this concept that many found amazing would endure! A magazine, a media based on discovery ? About young creatives ? And yet, everything turned out differently. International companies are rushing to get their articles in KODD Magazine, calls for tenders to benefit from KODD Korner’s services, appointments, lunches, meetings… The list is long.

Behind the glitter, there was a young woman who was facing many sharks… An innocent little girl who thought that the media world was a child’s game! A big mistake that made me suffer a lot of setbacks (depression, burn out, weakness, stress, anxiety…) that I hid behind my smile.

In 2018, I thought of stopping KODD Group for the first time because I felt swallowed up in an endless whirlpool. I met an honest man who joined the KODD adventure: Ray. As a digital project manager, he helped me structure my company, which was sinking like the Titanic… Having to start from scratch with the weight of failure is not easy.

In spite of everything, I took it upon myself to tell myself that: this time, it’s the right time! I put together a small team to continue the KODD adventure. Everything was going more or less well until I experienced yet another failure on the part of a partner whose article I wrote on Welink agencies : Fraud ?.

That was the last straw at that point! I realised that it was time for me to step up to the plate as a business owner. I decided to take a break to take stock. In 2021, I decided to apply for a job in a company to find out how a company works as an employee… Once I’d landed this contract, I began an adventure that I never thought I’d experience.

It was an experience that stimulated me and helped me understand that entrepreneurship is not just about working. It is a way of life, a game where we are the main actors. That everything depends on our actions. The lesson I learned the most: trust only your intuition and listen to yourself.

If I had to give one piece of advice to the dreamy 17 year old who started KODD in 2012, it would be: think of yourself before anyone else, no matter what. In the last 10 years I have been able to live my dreams to the fullest! I have met incredible people, had unimaginable experiences.

I never thought I would experience so many life changing events. The negative moments have shaped me. As for all the positive memories, I use them today to move forward. I lost thousands of euros, but I created a media group with a starting budget of euros 100.

I built an empire with an advertising budget of euros 1404! Partners who find us on the top pages of search engines, employees who thank us for the love and support of KODD for their projects, businesses… This is what I am most proud of!

Those entrepreneurs who sell dreams by making people believe that you can do it by raising funds, by working 7 days a week, 72 hours a week… I am not one of them and I will never be one of them. Freedom ends when you have no power over your life. Even less so, over your business.

Today, I am proud that KODD is holding its own despite the financial problems that all media are constantly facing. Being a media outlet is not the easiest business there is. Having to justify your rates, being turned down for tenders after many days of discussions and long hours of work is not easy.

But I remember that it makes you stronger! I’m not a journalist, I’m not from the top business schools, I’m not from the French elite… And yet, I’ve created a media that is watched with a magnifying glass.

I am constantly asked: How do you do it?
I always answer: I DO!

What I do is learn, understand, constantly think about how to do better with no budget. And that is the challenge of my life. To present a high quality product, with almost no financial resources.

My secret: I have no limits as long as my values are respected.

After 10 years of working for KODD Group as CEO and Growth Marketer, I am stepping down as sole Founder. A new adventure lies ahead of me. From 2021 to 2022, I have decided to make my professional reconversion. Indeed, following this contract at Comptalib, I discovered that the digital professions were no longer part of my life.

While working as an employee, I realised that this job did not correspond to my vision of life, of my life. I realised that being a writer and content creator were rather exciting jobs. Indeed, we can’t make all our passions our job. This is part of my reality… This was confirmed in my discussions with my clients.

“Angela, thank you for your advice! Thanks to you, I am doing much better mentally! You are not just a Marketing Consultant…”

“Wow! Are you sure you’re only doing digital marketing? Your insight into my emotional wellbeing has helped me a lot to improve the health of my business.”

“Angela, why didn’t you choose to be a Psychologist?”

This type of exchange happened constantly from my partners. I used to laugh about it… Then thanks to my position at Comptalib as an SEO Expert, I discovered that it was indeed real.

So in January 2022, I decided to train in the natural wellness industry. I didn’t have a specific goal at the beginning. I decided to face the failure of my Marketing job at KODD and this awakening at Comptalib. A few months later, with 3 prestigious certificates from Hippocratus, Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health and Stanford University School of Medicine, my ideas took time to mature.

I decided to open a natural wellness practice. After 10 years of failure, I dared to take the risk of this new entrepreneurial adventure. Not having the “employee” profile according to the career transition advisors I have met in recent months, I took the risk of returning to this whirlwind where failure is king.

This time, I am armed to the teeth: a background of 10 years of entrepreneurship, a maturity in business management, a know-how and expertise in digital marketing have enabled me to create the alam firm.

I am looking forward to the next setbacks that I will have to face in order to build maison alam like I built KODD Group. My parents used to tell me since I was a child: Wisdom gives Life. I would add: It is never too early, too late.

Because to succeed in life is to live, I believe that one must learn and accept failure to succeed. As a Natural Wellness Practitioner, I am faced with clients who do not understand their problems. And yet, it is only through them that I can know the possible sources and consequences of their problems.

By specialising in Holistic Nutrition, I have discovered that we are the masters of our own lives. That no one can help us to get out of it but ourselves.

I would like to thank all my collaborators and partners who have contributed to the existence of the KODD Group. I am no longer the main player in KODD, but I am still the founder and I am keeping an eye on this wonderful project that looks set to be a surprise in 2023.

One Life, One Chance – One Breath, One Harmony.

Angela Anz
KODD GROUP’S FOUNDER