The Failed MExU Manifesto
Today marks one year since I conceived the idea of The MExU Project. Ten months since it was launched and seven since it was abandoned — why?

‘It failed because I didn’t feel I could sustain an all-encompassing project while keeping my sanity and passing my second year at university. It failed because of lack of prioritisation and idealistic thinking not foreshadowed by reality.’
A international study abroad student sits in the Student Activity Centre waiting for the speech to commence.
The first words of the committee of the organisation begin with community, sharing stories and cultural appreciation.
At that moment, the study abroad student stops listening and dreams up a fantastic idea for a big NGO, not for an individual with limited time and experience.
The MExU Project is born.
Pronounced ‘Me and you’, the Project aimed to share the stories of not only the marginalised but the common (wo)man.
It asked six questions, the first five were warm-up questions with the sixth an amalgamation of previously discussed.
The aim was to reverse power roles in a qualitative interview environment.
The power was held by the participant for the specificity of the answers would balance or skew the effectiveness and credibility of the ecosystem.
The hope was to build up a database of interviews so it could be given to government entities to use as historical data for policy-making.
It didn’t see many weeks past my return to the UK after study abroad.
There are many reasons it failed.
One key factor was that the market in the UK for being vulnerable, open and trusting others is acute. We Brits are very secretive and like to have control of our information, despite our ignorant ticking of consent boxes without reading the T&Cs.
Another was support. I didn’t see co-founders and relied on the word of mouth that never transpired.
Why did I let it die?
I didn’t want to pursue something that I couldn’t sustain, financially or morally.
The interview process was efficient but the transcribing was a nightmare.
To make this effective for the numbers shown in the picture, something had to change.
Although I didn’t launch the Project for two months, I still failed to work out the cracks.
I worked with Will and Amalia on the Project, but most work was on the process, confedentiality. Rather micro compared to the obvious macro issues.
I have wonderful ideas everyday.
I had one yesterday, which I actually will pursue because it requires very little effort, and I want to do it.
I think motivation plays a massive factor.
The time for the MExU Project is not now, nor will it be for some time.
I’ve been sitting on ideas now, because I want them to mature in my mind.
The MExU Project failed, categorically, but it failed mainly because I was willing to try.
The fear of failure and rejection stops us from doing things everyday.
Another failed project was ‘The Power of Ordinary’.
It was aimed at taking people who had been hit down by the system, stuck in dead-end jobs or situations and creating a career from nothing.
I stopped the Instagram page back in June.
I had two meetings with friends, who I offered my time to, and nothing came of it.
I wanted it to be dependent on the people, not me nagging them.
Two failed projects and I’m only 20.
Can’t be doing so bad.
There is much more to come, but I want to exemplify that failure does occur if not everyday, but every once in a while.
But you have to try first.
The Failed MExU Manifesto