Pepsi’s infamous “number fever” fiasco in the Philippines led to chaos, riots, and even tragedy, yet the brand ultimately survived and thrived. I found a powerful parallel, reminding creators that even their biggest failures will fade into obscurity.

The real victory is choosing to keep going and pressing record, no matter the setbacks.

Key Takeaways

1. Major brand mistakes happen—even to global giants
Takeaway:
Even massive and successful companies like Pepsi can make serious, costly mistakes (like the $20 million “number fever” debacle in the Philippines). No one is immune to failure, no matter their size or reputation.

2. Mistakes aren’t the end—they’re survivable and often forgotten
Takeaway:
Big errors or failures might feel catastrophic in the moment, but their impact fades quickly. History is full of forgotten blunders, and even huge mistakes rarely tarnish a brand or individual forever.

3. Failure is a universal and necessary part of creative and business pursuits
Takeaway:
Whether you’re a new podcaster or seasoned professional, you’ll make mistakes (missed appointments, tech problems, awkward moments). These mishaps don’t define you—they simply prove you’re human and learning.

4. Resilience is more important than perfection
Takeaway:
Success comes from persistence, not avoiding mistakes. The real beauty and growth in podcasting (and life) comes from repeatedly showing up, learning from setbacks, and moving forward instead of quitting.

5. The passage of time erases almost all failures
Takeaway:
The things that feel so embarrassing or “disastrous” today will be forgotten—in 99 years no one will remember your missteps or awkward episodes. The fear of being remembered for mistakes is mostly in your head.

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Pepsi's $20M Mistake Lessons

03:56 Forgotten Mistakes Fade Quickly

07:33 Keep Podcasting, Imperfection Inspires

Pepsi&rsquo;s infamous &ldquo;number fever&rdquo; fiasco in the Philippines led to chaos, riots, and even tragedy, yet the brand ultimately survived and thrived.&nbsp;I found a powerful parallel, reminding creators that even their biggest failures will fade into obscurity.
The real victory is choosing to keep going and pressing record, no matter the setbacks.
Key Takeaways
1. Major brand mistakes happen&mdash;even to global giants Takeaway: Even massive and successful companies like Pepsi can make serious, costly mistakes (like the $20 million &ldquo;number fever&rdquo; debacle in the Philippines). No one is immune to failure, no matter their size or reputation.
2. Mistakes aren&rsquo;t the end&mdash;they&rsquo;re survivable and often forgotten Takeaway: Big errors or failures might feel catastrophic in the moment, but their impact fades quickly. History is full of forgotten blunders, and even huge mistakes rarely tarnish a brand or individual forever.
3. Failure is a universal and necessary part of creative and business pursuits Takeaway: Whether you&rsquo;re a new podcaster or seasoned professional, you&rsquo;ll make mistakes (missed appointments, tech problems, awkward moments). These mishaps don&rsquo;t define you&mdash;they simply prove you&rsquo;re human and learning.
4. Resilience is more important than perfection Takeaway: Success comes from persistence, not avoiding mistakes. The real beauty and growth in podcasting (and life) comes from repeatedly showing up, learning from setbacks, and moving forward instead of quitting.
5. The passage of time erases almost all failures Takeaway: The things that feel so embarrassing or &ldquo;disastrous&rdquo; today will be forgotten&mdash;in 99 years no one will remember your missteps or awkward episodes. The fear of being remembered for mistakes is mostly in your head.
Timestamped Overview
00:00 Pepsi's $20M Mistake Lessons
03:56 Forgotten Mistakes Fade Quickly
07:33 Keep Podcasting, Imperfection Inspires

A podcast for Houstonians who want to engage more with their hometown and learn more about the people driving its growth.

Cruz through HTX spotlights the stories, individuals, businesses, and organizations that make the Houston area GREAT.

A podcast for Houstonians who want to engage more with their hometown and learn more about the people driving its growth.
Cruz through HTX spotlights the stories, individuals, businesses, and organizations that make the Houston area GREAT.

A podcast for Houstonians who want to engage more with their hometown and learn more about the people driving its growth.

Cruz through HTX

Twenty-six year radio veteran Freddy Cruz has gone indie.


From former special forces operators and CEOs to authors and journalists, join
Freddy as he seeks to learn from some of the highest achieving individuals in the
world. These are stories of grit and blasting through the crucible of life. Stories of
standing up to powerful corporations and defying the odds. Not all of his guests
are authors, but they all have epic stories to share.

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