Emily Merrell, Six Degrees Society

Please tell us a little about your company: 

Six Degrees Society got started as a little life accident. I had this craving for more-- to learn from others but without asking everyone for coffee to pick their brain I wasn’t quite sure “how” I could learn from others. It was started in 2014 as a side hustle and turned into a full-time hustle/life/baby in 2016. My customer is the curiosity seeker, the individual that wants to surround themselves with individuals that push them, challenge them and inspire them. They want more than the status quo. 

At Six Degrees Society we are a networking community that invites individuals to show up as themselves without the pretension of their businesses or accomplishments clouding their connections. At SDS we believe in friendship first and business to follow with a penchant for exploring sides of themselves they might never have explored while making connections that are genuine. 

I love seeing friendships, travel buddies, collaborations and so much more evolve! I love seeing individuals lives change or expand because of a connection or an event attended. I get so much joy in the messages I receive from out attendees. Messages where they feel like they finally have the permission to be themselves, found their community and grown. 

Over the course of your career, what would you pick as your greatest failure?  Why?

There came a time in my fashion career when it was coming to an end. The feelings I kept trying to avoid of “not feeling my purpose” I’d find another job to bandaid the situation.

There also came a time where I wasn’t able to see eye to eye with my boss. As a teacher’s pet type and someone that needed to be liked I was devastated to hear that I wasn’t cutting it and was on the verge of being fired. It was an all consuming fear and walking on egg shells. 

What did you learn from this?

While it consumed me, it also provided me with permission to move on-- to release the feeling of need to stay in a particular industry. I am so grateful that it gave me the wings to fly and take a leap on building Six Degrees Society. If i had never been in that position, I would never have seen an opportunity to do something on my own. So in those moments when things feel dire, look for the silver linings -- it’s there somewhere. 

How did you turn it into an opportunity for self-growth?

I took the moment that I thought was the end of the world, an area of weakness, and was able to give myself permission to try. In this risk, I was able to set perimeters for trying something that always felt too risky. Rather than falling back into my old patterns of finding a bandaid to my problem I turned inward and invested in myself and my dreams and goals and bet on me. 

Why do you think failure is so important?

Failure is a necessary evil to see if you’re capable. 

Can you get knocked down, and get up again? 

Is it possible for you to achieve what your heart desires without your personal failures holding you back and keeping you in the past? 

Why do you think failure has such a negative connotation, when it’s truly vital to success?

Failure is like a terrible accident. It’s like burning your house down, all you see is the destruction and the ashes. You don’t see the opportunity, the upside the silver linings. 

What do you wish you would have known earlier in your career?

I wish I had known to step in my power. I didn’t know how to trust my voice -- I was too young, too confident, too insecure, too sensitive and let it ricochet off me rather than into me. 

What wisdom would you like to provide others currently experiencing failure?

It’s a temporary sensation, your future self will barely remember it. 

What is your favorite failure mantra? 

When in motion, stay in motion. 

Failure feels so permanent, so heavy and something that will never leave you. From dread to that feeling of guilt. You know what? 

That feeling is fleeting. It will one day leave you completely. 

If you could do it over again, what would you do differently?

I would have asked for help sooner. I would have sought out wisdom from those that were wiser and older and known that this was all part of the journey called life. 

How do you pick yourself back up again after failure?  Any specific habits or tricks?

I give myself a timer and cry, journal, feel the feels and then move on. Also, everyone needs a great therapist and coach in their life. 

What’s the best way to embrace failure?

With a hard hat. 

Instagram: @six_degrees_society

Website: sixdegreessociety.com

My name is Kirsten Böhme and I’m the VP of Digital for UWIB NYC, marrying my two great passions of storytelling and social media. 

I'm excited to have you join us each month as I highlight successful female founders, removing the stigma and shame associated with failure in the Failure is Fabulous series. 

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