I’ve failed time and time again…
Whether it was failing to get into college, failing my pilot flight test, being laid off eight times in a row, or being fired.
After every time I’ve endured these hardships and challenges, some sort of opportunity is on the other side.
Failure might not be what anyone aims for, but here’s the reality: it’s often a faster route to success than constant, cautious wins.
Failure is more than a setback—it’s a productive experience that can build skills, sharpen strategies, and reveal unexpected opportunities.
Embracing failure as a natural, even essential, part of your career journey can help you grow in ways that success alone can’t.
You gain insights and skills to propel you forward when things go wrong.
Each failure has something to teach you; sometimes, these lessons are precisely what’s needed to reach the next level in your career.
Here are three key ways failure can be a source of productivity and personal growth, with real-life examples of professionals who turned setbacks into success.
Failure forces you to pick yourself up and try again, building a unique resilience.
Facing setbacks, head-on teaches you how to recover, adapt, and move forward despite obstacles.
This resilience makes you more confident because you’ve learned that you can survive—and thrive—after mistakes.
Sarah Blakely, the founder of Spanx, had her fair share of failed ideas before she created her billion-dollar company.
She credits her resilience to her father, who taught her to embrace failure as a sign of trying.
Blakely would even come home each week and share her failures with her dad, who would celebrate them.
This support helped her see setbacks as steps toward eventual success, instilling confidence and persistence.
Accepting failure as part of the journey builds confidence that keeps you moving, even when things are tough. This perspective helps make career challenges less daunting.
A “failure” is often a fast-track lesson, pointing out what doesn’t work and clarifying what needs improvement.
When you view each setback as feedback, you can begin to see it as a powerful learning experience.
This approach saves you time and energy by identifying what isn’t effective early on.
Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper job for "lack of imagination and no good ideas."
This rejection drove him to pursue his creative vision and start his own animation company.
Over the years, Disney faced multiple financial and creative setbacks, including bankruptcy, but he learned from each.
His failures helped him sharpen his ideas, ultimately creating a media empire known for its imagination and innovation.
You gather essential data for refining your approach by treating failure as feedback. Each mistake shows you what to change, leading to a more effective strategy.
Sometimes, failure pushes you to explore options you hadn’t considered before, leading to opportunities you might have missed otherwise.
Failure forces you to get creative and explore paths that may be even better suited to your strengths and interests.
Steve Jobs experienced a high-profile failure when he was forced out of Apple, the company he’d co-founded.
This setback led him to start NeXT and acquire Pixar. During his time away, Jobs learned new skills, built a new network, and developed fresh perspectives.
When he eventually returned to Apple, he used these insights to transform Apple into one of the world’s most innovative companies.
Failure can be a redirection, steering you toward opportunities you wouldn’t have considered. Sometimes, these turns lead to paths that ultimately bring greater fulfillment and success.
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Here are some ways to turn failure into productive outcomes in your career:
The next time things go wrong, remember that failure can push you further along your career path.
Failure builds resilience, offers valuable lessons, and even opens unexpected doors.
For me, it was finding a better job with more pay, advancing my career, or taking the time to learn a new skill.
Viewing setbacks as productive experiences creates a mindset primed for long-term growth and success.
Every professional journey includes its share of missteps, but what you do after those missteps matters.
Failure may be uncomfortable, but embracing it can make it one of your greatest teachers and an indispensable ally on your path to success.
Chris M Wilson
Chris Wilson is a keynote speaker, CTI coach, and entrepreneur. Through his Hover to Fly framework, he aims to impact the next generation in their careers and lives.
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