“Failure resume,” is the wonderful title of a piece comedian Aparna Nancherla wrote in the New Yorker back in August.
In the format of a document that would be used to apply for a job, Nancherla listed things she had failed at like –
Have missed a huge number of cultural touchstones spanning film, TV, music—you name it, I will not know what you’re talking about. For example, as a thirty-seven-year-old, I asked my boyfriend if Jerry Seinfeld was Jewish.
And special skills –
Leaving parties without saying goodbye to anyone, because, honestly, who even remembers? Also, frequently not showing up to parties in the first place, so not great at saying hello, either.
Eating all the M&M’s out of trail mix. I did this once while a guest at a friend’s house.
Most of us want to hide our failures, but Nancherla reminds us when we describe these moments to others, more often than not, people will respond by saying something like, “that’s so funny, let me tell what I did.”
While a resume of our accomplishments – in written form or said out loud – can stir feelings of competition and even jealousy, the opposite – a failure resume, in written form, or said out loud – can be a path to laughter, connection and even friendship.
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