A negative result can be disappointing news about an idea and useful news about the world.

Finding that something does not work is still finding something out. The idea you were fond of has been narrowed or ruled out, which stings, and at the same time the map has become more accurate, which is what you were trying to achieve. The world did not withhold information; it gave you the unwelcome kind.

When an attempt fails, spend a moment writing down what you now know that you did not know last month. Do this before you move on, because otherwise the only thing you keep from the experience is the discouragement. A run of honest negative results is a slow, real form of progress, and it is easy to mistake for wasted time.