Kelly Bayett, Managing Partner at Love Song and Founder of Barking Owl, has a perspective on failure that is as refreshing as it is profound. Her journey is marked not by an absence of setbacks, but by a refusal to let them define her. For Kelly Bayett, failure is not a mark of inadequacy, but rather a stepping stone to growth and self-discovery. Her philosophy is deeply rooted in personal experiences, including lessons learned from her Nana and the uncharted paths of her career, all of which have contributed to her success in building a creative empire.
From a young age, Kelly Bayett was confronted with society’s rigid concept of failure. As a six or seven-year-old, she first learned the term from a peer at school. The idea that not succeeding at something made you a “failure” fascinated and puzzled her. Naturally, she turned to her closest confidant—her Nana—for guidance. “Who the hell told you this?” her Nana exclaimed when Kelly Bayett shared the troubling idea. This moment, filled with wisdom and humor, shaped Kelly Bayett’s lifelong understanding of failure. Her Nana’s candid words—”So fucking what?”—dismantled the myth that failure was something to be feared. Instead, it became clear to Kelly Bayett that failure was just a part of life, no different from burning a dish in the kitchen and deciding to order pizza instead.
Kelly Bayett’s Nana taught her one of the most valuable lessons of her life: failure does not define you, and it certainly doesn’t make you “bad.” In fact, failure can be a powerful teacher. “How many times have we sat down to dinner and I tried something new, and it was shit?” her Nana said. For Kelly Bayett, the concept of failure lost its sting as soon as it was introduced. This philosophy gave her the freedom to embrace her mistakes and to approach new challenges with a mindset of growth, rather than fear.
This lesson became a guiding principle for Kelly Bayett as she navigated her life and career. Her first marriage didn’t work out. But instead of viewing it as a failure, Kelly Bayett saw it as a learning experience. “So what?” she asked herself. The end of that relationship taught her invaluable lessons about what she wanted from life, who she wanted to be, and what she would accept in future relationships. These lessons helped her find clarity, and ultimately, success in her second marriage.
Kelly Bayett’s acting career also didn’t go as planned. But instead of feeling defeated, she pivoted. “So what?” she thought once again. The skills she developed during her time in acting—particularly in improvisation—shaped how she would approach her next career path. Kelly Bayett learned to listen intently, adapt quickly, and avoid reacting impulsively, all skills that would prove invaluable in her future endeavors. Working for tips while waiting for her acting career to take off also provided Kelly Bayett with insights into client service that she would later apply to her businesses. This resilience and adaptability are hallmarks of Kelly Bayett’s professional success.
Kelly Bayett went on to create Barking Owl, a sound and music company, and later, Love Song. Both ventures flourished, driven by her unorthodox approach to business and creativity. Her success was not about following a straight, predictable path—it was about learning from every twist and turn, every so-called “failure” along the way. By rejecting the fear of failure, Kelly Bayett allowed herself the freedom to explore, to take risks, and to grow.
For Kelly Bayett, people often put too much pressure on themselves not to fail, and this pressure can stifle creativity and growth. It keeps us from pursuing commitments, from diving headfirst into work, and from chasing success. “If we are doing this life thing right, we are always growing, changing, and learning,” Kelly Bayett believes. Her message is clear: failure is not the end—it’s an integral part of the journey. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to grow into the best versions of ourselves.
This philosophy has helped Kelly Bayett build a career that is both successful and deeply fulfilling. She encourages others to push through the discomfort of potential failure and to embrace the lessons that come from falling short. “Try the thing that makes you uncomfortable,” she advises. “If it doesn’t work out, so fucking what, order a pizza and get on with it.” In other words, don’t let the fear of failure hold you back from trying new things. Whether it’s a failed marriage, a stalled acting career, or a burned dinner, life goes on—and so do we.
Kelly Bayett’s story is a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of embracing failure as a natural part of life. She reminds us that success is not a linear path. It’s a winding road, filled with detours, setbacks, and, yes, failures. But each of those experiences brings us closer to understanding ourselves and achieving our goals.
By redefining failure and removing the stigma associated with it, Kelly Bayett has unlocked the secret to personal and professional growth. Her journey shows that the fear of failure is often more paralyzing than failure itself. Once we let go of that fear, we can move forward with courage, creativity, and confidence. In doing so, we become unstoppable—just like Kelly Bayett.
Kelly Bayett’s outlook is one of liberation. She teaches us that it’s okay to fall short, to make mistakes, and to fail. What matters is what we do next. For Kelly Bayett, that often means dusting yourself off, learning from the experience, and, if all else fails, ordering a pizza and trying again tomorrow.
