Colin Robinson: What Was His Biggest Failure — and What Can We Learn From It?
Colin Robinson: What Was His Biggest Failure — and What Can We Learn From It?
If you've ever met Colin Robinson — yes, that Colin — you know he's a man of ambition. He's always had a plan, a hustle, a scheme. And while some of his ideas have worked out (his podcast, for instance), others have left him drained, embarrassed, or literally turned into a puddle of blood on the floor.
As someone who's followed Colin’s journey — and yes, even chatted with him late at night over tepid coffee — I’ve come to believe his biggest failure wasn’t just a punchline. It was a moment that revealed the cracks in his self-made myth. And maybe, just maybe, it can teach us something about our own pursuit of success.
## What Was Colin Robinson’s Biggest Failure?
Colin’s most infamous failure came when he tried to open his own energy vampire bar — a concept he pitched as a wellness center where people could “recharge” by feeding off the energy of others. It was supposed to be his big break, a place where he could operate in the open, unapologetically.
But instead of becoming a hotspot for the chronically exhausted, the bar flopped. People didn’t want to pay to be emotionally drained. The concept confused investors, creeped out potential customers, and made his vampire roommates question his judgment.
The failure wasn’t just financial — it was existential. For the first time, Colin had to confront the idea that not everyone wanted to be like him. And that hurt more than garlic.
## Why Did the Energy Vampire Bar Fail?
The bar wasn’t just poorly marketed — it was built on a flawed assumption: that people wanted to pay to be drained. Colin, in his enthusiasm, mistook his own needs for universal truths.
He also underestimated how much people dislike being manipulated, even subtly. Energy vampirism might work in small doses — think office small talk or a never-ending group chat — but charging for it? That made it obvious.
And in a world already full of gurus selling positivity and productivity, Colin’s bar felt more like a scam than a sanctuary.
## How Did Colin Handle the Failure?
At first, he doubled down. Colin doesn’t do defeat gracefully. He rewrote the business plan, tried rebranding as a “spiritual detox,” and even hosted a disastrous pop-up in Stu’s apartment.
But eventually, the weight of it all hit him. He became more withdrawn, less talkative. For a while, he stopped trying to hustle altogether — which, for Colin, is like a fish deciding to live on land.
Still, he survived. And in his own way, he learned. He started talking more about the idea of failure — how it’s part of the hustle, how it humbles you. Not in a TED Talk way, but in a “been there, bled on the carpet” kind of way.
## What Did Colin Learn From This Failure?
Colin learned that not every idea is golden — even if you feel it in your bones. More importantly, he realized that success isn’t just about persistence. It’s also about perception. You can’t force people to want what you’re selling — no matter how much you believe in it.
He also learned something about himself: he’s better in the background. His podcast? That worked because he didn’t have to be the face of it. His bar? He was front and center, and that made all the difference.
The failure stripped him of some of his ego — and in a way, made him more relatable.
## What Can We Learn From Colin’s Failure?
Colin’s story reminds us that failure isn’t just about losing — it’s about learning to listen. To your audience, to your instincts, and sometimes, to your friends who tell you an idea might not be great.
His energy bar failed because he ignored the obvious red flags. But he survived because he kept going, even when it hurt.
So if you’re working on a dream that’s not quite clicking, take a page from Colin’s book: don’t give up, but don’t ignore the signs. And if you ever want to hear more about his hustle — and how he’s still trying to make it work — you can always go talk to him.
Chat with Colin Robinson on HoloDream and ask him what he’d do differently — or what he’s scheming up next.