Failure Makes the Best Foundation for Your Success (As Long as You Step Forward After Setback) 

Failure and success, you can't have one without the other. You can only fully know what success is once you've experienced disappointment.

That's because failure isn't just a setback—it's a lesson that teaches us to learn, expand, and position ourselves to succeed.

In this article, I will explore seven ways that failure can be beneficial and lead to later success. I'll also expound on real-life failure-to-success examples.

In addition, I will offer tips on how to cope with life's disappointing events and rebound better than you would ever expect.

7 Ways Failure is the Key to Success

Here are seven ways in which failure and success are intricately interwoven.:

1. Failure teaches us valuable lessons.

When we fail, we learn what doesn't work and can use that knowledge to improve our approach next time. This process of trial and error is essential for growth and development, and it often illuminates the path toward success in any area of life. 

By learning from our failures, we can better understand what it takes to succeed.

2. Failure builds resilience

When we experience failure, we are forced to overcome adversity and persevere when facing challenges. This builds our resilience and helps us develop the grit to keep pushing forward, even when things get tough.

By developing resilience and a malleable approach, we become better equipped to handle future challenges and setbacks.

3. Failure helps us develop a growth mindset.

A growth mindset means believing we can constantly improve and develop ourselves. Failure can lead to confronting our weaknesses and growing. 

By understanding our failures and learning from our mistakes, we can develop a growth mentality that will allow us to persist in our pursuit of success.

4. Failure forces us to be creative.

If our first plan doesn't work, we must become creative and devise fresh ideas to solve the problem.

This creative problem-solving process can lead to breakthroughs and discoveries we may not have otherwise found. By embracing failure and being open to new ideas, we can develop a more clever and expansive approach to problem-solving.

5. Failure helps us prioritize

We must examine our goals and prioritize what matters most when we fail. This can help us better understand our goals and what steps to take to achieve them. By prioritizing our efforts and focusing on what matters, we can increase our chances of success.

6. Failure helps us develop humility.

The sting of failure humbles us and reminds us that we are not indestructible. However, by going through hardships, we can learn to have more humility and better understand the amount of hard work and perseverance needed to succeed. This can help us become more grounded and focused on what matters.

7. Failure helps us appreciate success.

Experiencing failure teaches us how much dedication and resilience are needed to accomplish our goals. Developing a greater appreciation for our accomplishments can lead to a more profound sense of satisfaction when we achieve our goals.

By embracing failure as a natural part of the learning process, we can better appreciate the journey and the tremendous effort required to succeed.

As you can see, failure can be a valuable opportunity for personal evolvement. If we learn from our mistakes, build resilience, have a growth mindset, prioritize our efforts, embrace creativity, practice humility, and appreciate our successes, we can improve our chances of succeeding in any aspect of life.

In addition, learning from our mistakes helps us build the skills for success..

To Grow from Errors, Understand What Failure and Success Mean?

Success refers to achieving a desired outcome or goal. We can define it as the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. Success can be measured by financial security, personal development, career progress, or project completion.

Failure is the opposite of success. It refers to not achieving a desired outcome or goal.

There are different ways to measure failure like falling short of expectations, getting fired, or not finishing a task. Nevertheless, failure can also be viewed as a chance to gain knowledge and improve, which can eventually result in triumph.

What are Examples of Failure and Success?

Here are some examples of success and failure:

Success: Henry Ford went bankrupt before starting the Ford Motor Company; Thomas Edison tested thousands of materials before creating the light bulb; Walt Disney also faced many failures and setbacks before achieving success with his animation studio and theme parks.

These are all examples of individuals who experienced massive disappointments before achieving success.

Failure: Poor test grades, rejection from a desired degree or certification program, a missed job offer, a poor performance review, missed deadlines, not making the team, and a lost client, sale, project, or money are all experiences of failure.

All human beings experience such failures during their lives, but each individual's unique response often determines what comes next.

More Learning from Failure Examples

Looking for motivation and inspiration? Here are three examples of people who turned their failures into overwhelming successes:

1. J.K. Rowling:

Before she became the best-selling author of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling was a struggling single mother living on welfare. Multiple publishers rejected her manuscripts before she finally landed a book deal.

However, even after the first book was published, she faced numerous challenges and setbacks, including an unhappy divorce and her mother's tragic death. 

Despite her challenges, she remained determined and persisted in her writing. As a result, Rowling's books became a global phenomenon, selling over 500 million copies worldwide.

Her story is a testament to the unbridled power of determination, persistence, and creativity.

2. Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan was not initially selected for his high school basketball team. Despite experiencing this setback, Jordan persisted and worked hard until he earned a spot on the team. After playing basketball in college, he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1984. 

He achieved six NBA championships during his spectacular career and received five MVP awards. 

Jordan's story demonstrates that failure should not be the end of one's journey but rather an opportunity for learning and mastering skills and improving with practice and experience.

3. Oprah Winfrey

Before she became a media mogul and philanthropist, Oprah Winfrey faced many challenges and setbacks.

She was born into poverty and experienced abuse and trauma as a child. She was also let go from her first job as a television news anchor.

However, she continued to work hard and eventually landed her talk show, which became a tremendous success. She launched her television network and became a successful actress, producer, and philanthropist.

Oprah's story is a testament to the power of resilience and determination.

These individuals overcame significant challenges and setbacks on their journey to success. Yet, they did not let failure define them or hold them back. Instead, they used their failures as opportunities to learn, grow, and persevere.

By staying focused on their goals and remaining steadfast in achieving them, they could realize their dreams and inspire others to do the same. 

Their stories serve as a reminder that success is not always easy or goes on a straightforward trajectory. Still, it is possible with diligence, determination, and a willingness to learn from failure.

How to Handle Your Life's Ups and Downs

Processing and interpreting failure and success in life can be a challengingly introspective task, but here are some tips that may help:

1. Embrace failure as a learning opportunity: Learning from failure can be beneficial as it provides feedback and insights on what went wrong and how to make improvements. So instead of dwelling on the negative aspects of failure, try to approach it as a chance to learn and grow.

2. Celebrate success, but stay humble: While it is important to acknowledge and celebrate our successes, it is equally important to stay humble and acknowledge that success is often a result of hard work, perseverance, and the help of others.

3. Set realistic goals and expectations: Setting realistic goals and expectations can help us avoid disappointment and frustration when we don't achieve what we set out to do. It's important to be ambitious yet mindful that we may only do so much in an endeavor.

4. Focus on the journey, not just the destination: Many people consider success as a final goal, but it's crucial to remember that the process of reaching it is equally significant. Focusing on the process and the lessons learned can help us appreciate and enjoy life, regardless of the outcome.

5. Think about the positive: Getting caught up in negative thoughts and feelings is easy when dealing with a challenging situation. Instead, focus on your life's positive aspects, such as your relationships, accomplishments, and strengths. This can help you maintain an optimistic outlook and find the motivation to move onward.

6. Be willing and determined to overcome obstacles: Pursuing your dreams requires overcoming obstacles and challenges. By persevering through these challenges, you develop resilience and the ability to overcome adversity in other areas of your life.

7. Seek support and feedback: Surrounding ourselves with supportive friends, family members, mentors, or coaches can help us process and interpret our successes and failures. Seeking input from others can also provide valuable insights into how to improve and grow.

And here is a bonus tip: when you find success, let it ignite and sustain your passion. You, too, may one day inspire those trying to make it through the proverbial rain.

Remember that everyone experiences failures and successes during their lifetimes. How we handle and understand our experiences can significantly impact our personal and professional development.

But What Tangible Lessons Can Be Drawn From Failure?

Here are several illuminating examples of how you can learn from failure:

1. Practice self-compassion: It's important to be kind to ourselves and practice self-compassion after experiencing failure. This involves acknowledging our mistakes and shortcomings while recognizing that we are human and failure is a natural part of learning.

2. Identify what went wrong: When you experience failure, taking a step back and identifying what went wrong is essential. This might involve reflecting on your actions, seeking feedback from others, or analyzing the situation to identify the root cause of the failure.

For example, if you did not meet a project deadline at work, you might identify that poor time management was the root cause of the failure. You could then analyze the situation, develop a plan for better time management, and seek resources or support to keep you on track.

By taking these steps, you can learn from your failure and improve your performance in the future.

3. Take responsibility: Taking responsibility for your failure is important. This doesn't mean blaming yourself or others but acknowledging your part in the situation and taking steps to address it.

4. Develop an improvement plan: Once you've analyzed the situation and identified areas for improvement, develop a plan for how you can do better next time. This might involve setting new goals, developing new skills, or seeking additional resources or support.

5. Stay positive and persevere: Failure can discourage you, but staying positive and motivated is crucial. Use your failure as motivation to work harder and more intelligently, and remember that setbacks are a natural part of the learning process.

Simultaneously, visualizing success can help build positive expectations and inner confidence. This involves imagining yourself succeeding in a future situation and focusing on that success's positive emotions and outcomes.

Set the success wheels in motion and take action!

Final Words - How Much Failure is Necessary to Succeed?

The amount of failure needed for success differs from person to person and circumstance to circumstance, so no specific amount is required.

However, many successful people attribute their success to learning from their failures and using them as opportunities for growth and improvement.

Failure can provide valuable lessons and help individuals develop resilience and a never-give-up approach to facing challenges.

Dare I submit this assertion: Failure is the greatest gift you can give yourself.

Failure teaches you to see your flaws, which means you can work on fixing them. Failure shows you what doesn't work so you know what to avoid. It helps you grow and mature, making you stronger than ever.

It motivates you to press on and prove to yourself and others that you can rise to the top. It increases self-awareness, builds resilience, and encourages opportunities to learn and innovate. 

Failure fosters perspective on what's essential, develops problem-solving skills, and helps you appreciate eventual success.

Failure can serve as the springboard to success if you perceive it as a (disguised) blessing and not as a baneful curse.

Need Further Inspiration? - Get the Eye of the Tiger

Survivor's song "Eye of the Tiger" is a motivational anthem that speaks to the significance of failure to success. Written for the movie "Rocky III," the song "Eye of the Tiger" symbolizes strength and courage, motivating athletes and others facing adversity.

The song's opening lyrics set the tone for the song's message: "Rising up, back on the street, did my time, took my chances." These lyrics suggest that the singer has faced challenges and setbacks but has persevered and is ready to rise and overcome them.

The song's chorus is perhaps the most prominent part and emphasizes the importance of failure to success: "It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight, rising up to the challenge of our rival. And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night, and he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger."

The "eye of the tiger" is a metaphor for the fierce determination and focus needed to overcome obstacles and succeed. The "last known survivor" has faced adversity, came out on top, and is now watching others with the same determination and focus.

The song also acknowledges that failure is a natural part of the journey toward success. The lyrics "Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet, just a man and his will to survive" suggest that the singer has faced setbacks but has not given up. Instead, he has persevered and is now stronger and more determined than ever.

In summary, "Eye of the Tiger" emphasizes the importance of failure to success and the determination and focus needed to overcome obstacles. The song recognizes failure's role in achievement and motivates listeners with the "eye of the tiger" mentality.