Failure is never Final - We can Always Come Back

 


Two things happened over the last week that made me understand that we can always come back. Here is what I wrote some years back "The South African cricket team, despite their talent and potential, has often fallen short in crucial moments of earlier world cup campaigns as well. A notable instance was during the 2015 World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand, where they were highly favored but lost in the semifinal. In this year's World Cup final (meaning the Twenty20 final in 2024), they found themselves needing 30 runs from 30 balls with wickets in hand—a seemingly achievable target. However, the psychological burden of past failures likely played a role in their inability to clinch the victory. Despite this, their journey to the final demonstrates their resilience and character, and it’s only a matter of time before they overcome these challenges and win the silverware." Well, I am glad to report that South Africa has won the World Test Championship final against Australia in Lords which is a deserving victory. After the first innings lead Australia looked dominant but the South Africans showed great character to come back and win.

The other example is Alacaraz beating Sinner last Sunday from two sets down and break down in the fourth against Sinner. It was an amazing comeback one of the best victories of all time. Once again it proves that no matter the circumstances we can always come back to win.

M. Scott Peck begins his best-selling book "The Road Less Traveled" with the words, "Life is Difficult." Indeed, we all face difficulties and failures, but the key is to use these experiences to improve our chances of success. In fact, it might even be better to not label anything a failure. Here are some expanded thoughts on this idea to make the most of failure and get better.

Fail Forward

John Maxwell, in his book Failing Forward, posits that successful people distinguish themselves by how they respond to failure. IBM founder Thomas J. Watson famously said, "If you want to increase your success rate, double your failure rate." Failure is inevitable, but it’s crucial to dust ourselves off and move forward, learning valuable lessons along the way. Failure is another way to begin intelligently. It’s not about avoiding failure but embracing it as a step towards greater success. The book Great by Choice by Jim Collins and Morten Hansen highlights three qualities of great leaders—fanatic discipline, empirical creativity, and productive paranoia—which help them navigate and overcome failures. Success is about maintaining a vision, committing to it, and viewing obstacles as opportunities for growth. When the going gets tough the tough really get going. In fact welcoming failure and overcoming it can become a game which you keep winning always. The one thing that is certain in our lives is uncertainty so we do need to equip ourselves to deal with it. 

Accept Reality

As Max De Pree observed “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality.” While this may seem to contradict the vision part it is not. While having a vision can propel you forward, you have to match that with the reality of the current situation. In Good to Great Jim Collins talks about the Stockdale Paradox about the prisoner of war (James Stockdale) in Vietnam. He was one of the most decorated officers in the history of the U.S. Navy and how he dealt with the unimaginable period of 8 years as a prisoner of war was termed by Jim Collins as the Stockdale Paradox. He said you should accept reality but have unwavering commitment that you will thrive in the end by confronting the brutal facts. He said it was the optimists who didn't make it because they were always thinking they will be out by Christmas but Christmas came and they were not out. Then they believed they will be out by Easter and Easter came but they were still not out. This went on for years before they gave up. So never confuse unwavering commitment with the definition of reality. Confront the brutal facts while maintaining an unwavering commitment that you will succeed in the end. You can’t have a brand new start but you can create a brand new ending. His own words “I never lost faith in the end of the story, I never doubted not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which, in retrospect, I would not trade.” 

Improve

I like this quote “If you are not getting better you are getting worse.” Your greatest threat to your future success is your current complacency or as some put it nothing fails like success. At the height of your success reexamine your life, set higher standards, believe in more and always have a beginner’s mindset. The greatest enemy of tomorrows success is today’s success. Never be complacent. I read in Fast Company that Laurene Powell Jobs calls Steve Jobs a "learning machine." He learned from his many failures and relentlessly applied those lessons. I read that Bill Gates always thought about the possibility of failure, and he hangs a poster of Henry Ford to remind that everyone including the best entrepreneurs can be surpassed as Ford was by GM in the early days of the auto industry. He uses it to channel him rather than sabotage his plans. He is always on the edge continuously thinking of next best thing so that he doesn't get knocked out. This is a great attitude to have. Constantly seeking to improve ourselves helps in overcoming any failures and we can see failures as merely detours in a long journey towards mastery. Some tactics to be on the path for continuous improvement are reading widely in your field and other topics, listening to educational audio books, listening to inspirational videos on you tube, reading magazines on business, taking classes/certifications in your field of expertise. 

Long Haul

Life is not a sprint it is a marathon. If we want enduring success we cannot be impatient. Rome was not built in a day, we can’t lose weight in a week, and we can’t become world-class in a year. As researchers have confirmed for anyone to attain mastery in their chosen craft it requires 10000 hours or roughly 10 years of deliberate practice. Deliberate practice is not easy, it involves sacrifices a key word to remember when considering the long haul. You have to keep practicing a skill for a number of years before you get public acclaim. Tony Robbins says people get praised in public for what they practice for years in private. We should remember the Nike Slogan “Just Do It” and get on with our lives. Life doesn't stop and as Napoleon Hill famously quoted “Every adversity carries with it the seed of an equivalent benefit.” You can use setbacks as a spring board to further your aspirations and life is indeed what we make of it. Long term thinking and an exciting bold vision masks short term failures keeping you motivated for a larger cause. Keep the mental picture of your final victory in your mind as you go through the trials and tribulations of day to day life. As the opera singer Beverly Sills observed “There is no shortcut to any place worth going” so remember it is going to take time for success to show up but it will be worth the wait. 

Understanding

Understanding the purpose of one’s life gives meaning. We can either choose to live a great life or succumb to our own inhibitions of what success truly is. Success is personal so I am not going to equate it with money though it does play a part. Our goals define our destiny. Clare Boothe Luce the politician, writer and ambassador popularized the concept of having a life sentence explaining the meaning of your life and this is something you create by deeply examining the inner most feelings and truly writing what you want to be remembered for long after you are gone. Having a personal mission statement also helps. We all have goals in our work life whether we like it or not but similarly if we can articulate goals for our life it would surely enrich our lives and give deeper meaning. Personal goals need not be what others want for you, it is your imagination and your own story. We can write our own script and give it the best ending possible by living as close to what we truly want at the end. Setting goals in all areas of life is important. Set personal goals, career goals, financial goals, family goals and I am sure this will give great ideas on what our lives are truly meant to be. This can also be translated to having an intense burning desire to succeed. In the words of Glen Cunningham who in 1934 set the world record for the one mile run at 4:06 “Desire is what made a boy with burnt legs set the world record in the one mile run.” 

Reinvent

When we encounter failure it is good time to reinvent ourselves. Human beings have the enormous capacity to reinvent our lives even under dire circumstances. As Victor Frankl mentioned “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” We can choose our destiny, we can reinvent our lives, and we can turn our past failure into stepping stones for greater things. The only thing that is stopping us is a lack of a bigger vision for ourselves. As General Douglas McArthur says “There is no security in life only opportunity.” The story of human life is the story of overcoming enormous odds and rejections. An example is the Chicken Soup for the Soul series; it was rejected by nearly 140 publishers before it was finally published. As a young cartoonist Walt Disney faced many rejections from newspaper editors who said he had no talent. Young Beethoven was told that he had no talent for music but he gave some of the most memorable music of all time. Let’s just remember this whenever we face one or two rejections. We need to really DIG DEEP and bring our best self to light. Reinvent and recreate so that you live an extraordinary life full of possibilities. Develop high self-esteem and don’t allow anyone to put you down or your dreams. 

Energy

Without internal energy it is impossible to overcome failures and live the life of your dreams. We need both physical and mental energy for the long haul. Our life will go through seasons of happiness, despair, failure and success. Through it all the only thing that can sustain us is our energy. To maintain physical energy, we need to take care of our body through regular exercise, proper diet, adequate sleep, constant recharging of the batteries and regular medical checkups. To keep our mind sharp and active we need to keep feeding the mind with the right material. We need to be in constant engagement of the mind with positive, uplifting books, magazines, and videos. Writing in a journal and keeping track of our victories even small ones can keep us energized, positive and upbeat about the future. The greater energy we have the easier it is for us to meet failure and overcome it. Failure is not the end, but it is only the beginning of something much greater.

Growth Mindset

Adopting a growth mindset is pivotal in overcoming failures and achieving long-term success. Carol Dweck's research at Stanford University highlights the difference between a fixed mindset, which sees abilities as static, and a growth mindset, which views challenges as opportunities to develop skills and intelligence. Embracing a growth mindset allows individuals to see failures not as setbacks but as vital experiences for growth and improvement. For example, companies like Microsoft under Satya Nadella's leadership have embraced this philosophy, fostering a culture where learning from mistakes is encouraged and innovation is driven by continuous improvement.

Resilience

Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. It is a critical trait for turning failures into success. Resilience involves staying positive, maintaining flexibility, and learning from setbacks. The story of Elon Musk, who faced numerous failures with his companies, including SpaceX's early rocket launch failures and Tesla's production issues, is a testament to the power of resilience. Despite these challenges, Musk’s perseverance and adaptability have led to groundbreaking successes in both space exploration and electric vehicles.

Adaptability

Adaptability is the ability to adjust to new conditions and is essential for navigating the ever-changing landscape of challenges and opportunities. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of adaptability in both personal and professional contexts. Companies like Zoom and Slack thrived by quickly adapting to the increased demand for remote communication tools, while many others struggled to pivot their business models. On a personal level, adaptability means being open to new ideas, flexible in approach, and willing to change course when necessary.

Tenacity

Tenacity is the quality of being determined and persistent. It is about holding on to your goals despite the difficulties and obstacles that come your way. Thomas Edison, who conducted over 1,000 unsuccessful experiments before inventing the light bulb, exemplifies tenacity. His famous quote, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work," reflects the mindset needed to achieve great success. In the modern business world, Jeff Bezos's relentless pursuit of innovation at Amazon, despite numerous early setbacks, showcases the power of tenacity.

Empathy

Empathy involves understanding and sharing the feelings of others. It is a crucial leadership quality that helps build strong, supportive relationships. Empathy allows leaders to connect with their teams, understand their challenges, and provide meaningful support. Companies like Google and Salesforce prioritize empathy in their corporate cultures, promoting employee well-being and creating environments where individuals can thrive. On a personal level, practicing empathy can lead to more compassionate and effective communication, fostering stronger relationships and support networks.

The principles of overcoming failure and achieving success are highly relevant in the IT industry, particularly in software development and testing.

In software development, failure is often part of the innovation process. Agile methodologies, which emphasize iterative development and continuous feedback, are designed to handle and learn from failures. Companies like Spotify and Facebook have embraced Agile to enhance their development processes. Facebook's mantra "Move fast and break things" encourages developers to experiment and learn quickly from their mistakes, driving rapid innovation.

In software testing, the ability to learn from failures is crucial for improving software quality. Test-driven development (TDD) and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) practices help identify and address failures early in the development process. Companies like Google and Amazon use these practices to ensure high-quality software releases. Google's emphasis on "blameless postmortems" after failures encourages a culture of learning and continuous improvement, where the focus is on understanding and fixing issues rather than assigning blame.

As Mark Cuban says in his book How to Win at the Sport of Business “The point of all this is that it doesn’t matter how many times you fail. It doesn’t matter how many times you almost get it right. No one is going to know or care about your failures, and neither should you. All you have to do is learn from them and from those around you because … All that matters in business is that you get it right once. Then everyone can tell you how lucky you are.” So as the article suggests failure is never final in whatever you do for a living and you can always come back. Good Luck on your journey of success.

Thanks for reading this post.

The views expressed in this article are my own and do not represent my organization.

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