This section, and chapter in the book, is about failures. Why does it happen sometimes? The best way to avoid it?
Use the commentator-field (if your comment does not get published instantly, just wait for a while, in worst case even a day or so…spam-filters are not that perfect, yet, I ´m not able to be behind the curtain fixing all that when I´m sleeping).
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Stop Nobody Move 
THE IMPORTANCE OF FAILURE
In the book J.K Rowling is mentioned for the great success that she achieved writing only one book, but I would also mention her for her failures and the relevance that she gave to that.
In a speech at Harvard’s Graduation, in 2008, she talked about the value of failure.
She pointed out that failure isn’t enjoyable, but it’s inevitable. In her words, “the only way to avoid failure is to live so cautiously you may as well not have lived at all, in which case you fail by default.”
Rowling emphasized that taking risks means being aware that failure might happen and can be painful. Yet, it’s a crucial part of the journey.
In her speech, she shared that not only she struggled to make progress on her first book, but she also faced a failed marriage and the responsibility of raising her baby daughter alone. With no job, no finished product, and two mouths to feed, things were tough.
After sending her manuscript to 12 different publishers and facing rejection from each one, Rowling began to lose confidence in her book.
Despite the challenges, we all know the happy ending of her story and her tremendous success.
However, the important lesson she left us with is that if you have an idea or passion and face rejection or failure, don’t let it stop you.
To see the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHGqp8lz36c
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Great Lesson! For sure J.K. Rowling is one of the most influential and discussed person of the last decades and this insight on her intimate life is very interesting because it highlights some details that may have inspired her in her books.
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Hi Adele, J.K. Rowling is an excellent example of determination for entrepreneurs. Her life experience highlights determination and the truth that time is sometimes needed. Furthermore, her journey highlights resilience and risk-taking, even after facing numerous rejections. Her story is one of perseverance. Best, Hailey
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J.K. Rowling’s journey, marked by initial failures and ultimate success, serves as a powerful reminder of the value of perseverance. Her experience emphasizes that facing rejection and difficulties is an integral part of the path to success. Rowling’s story encourages us to embrace our struggles and continue pursuing our passions, regardless of the challenges we may encounter. This lesson is particularly relevant for entrepreneurs, underscoring the importance of resilience and belief in one’s vision, even in the face of setbacks.
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Story of ‘Avoid a Failure’
It’s important to note that no one completely avoids failure, as it is a natural part of life and growth. However, some individuals manage to navigate challenges effectively and mitigate the impact of potential failures. One example is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, a successful actor, producer, and former professional wrestler.
Dwayne Johnson faced a significant career shift when he decided to pursue acting after his wrestling career. Initially, his transition to Hollywood wasn’t seamless, and he appeared in a string of movies that didn’t achieve widespread success. Despite facing some early disappointments, Johnson learned from each experience and adapted his approach.
Rather than seeing setbacks as failures, Johnson viewed them as opportunities to reassess and improve. He worked on expanding his acting skills, chose diverse roles, and built a strong work ethic. Over time, he became one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood, starring in blockbuster films and establishing himself as a charismatic and versatile performer.
The key takeaway from Johnson’s story is not that he avoided failure but that he navigated through it, learned from it, and persisted in pursuing his goals. His ability to adapt, stay focused, and continuously improve contributed to his success in the entertainment industry.
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Hu Shuxin!
This story about Dwayne Johnson is quite famous and inspiring. It is indeed clear from his story that his skillset is quite diverse, and I believe that an entrepreneur’s skillset should also be something similar. If Steve Jobs had never attended the calligraphy classes, who knows how things would have turned out for him? Just like he mentions, its all about connecting the dots and connecting the ideas. Even though it might look weird at first, in hindsight or some years down the line, it might make more sense.
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Hi Shuxin,
I liked your story about Dwayne Johnson’s career. To add on to it, before he was a professional wrestler, he tried to play football professionally but was cut from his team within two months. It’s interesting how he has persevered through these ‘failures’ to become one of the most famous and successful actors in Hollywood.
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Dwayne Johnson may not be very successful as a wrestler, but he is certainly successful as an actor. Halfway home and able to accurately grasp the audience’s preferences, he is not only a good actor, but also a businessman good at seizing opportunities. Imagine the young achievers who have appeared in film and television since childhood, and the students in acting school. They started much higher than Johnson in their acting careers, but most of them were unable to achieve such achievements. So if we want to be successful in any industry, we must not be afraid of failure, and we must learn from it and make our skills more versatile.
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“Nadie es profeta en su propia tierra, pero el lo es.” (no one is the prophet of his own land, but he is). These are the words of Diego Armando Maradona when asked about the Salvadoran footballer Jorge Alberto Gonzalez, known as “the Magician.” Jorge since childhood has been passionate about soccer. At the age of nineteen he received his first real contract from Club Deportivo FAS and suprised the world at the 1982 World Cup thanks to his unnatural talent. Despite several offers from major sports clubs such as Inter Milan, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain, the Magician chooses to play for Cadiz, a semi-unknown team in the Spanish lower league. Why? This choice is due to the footballer’s desire not to play to win but to have fun and entertain, as mentioned in various interviews.
Because of his profligate life he often quarreled with his club but, thanks to his talent, Cadiz was promoted to Liga 1 (Spain’s top league) and remained there for 7 years until he returned to his homeland. Gonzalez, back in San Salvador, participates in seven championships, winning two, and retires at age forty-two. He tries to pursue a coaching career but, realizing he cannot stand such serious work, decides to become a taxi driver in his hometown. Thus ends the story of the greatest soccer talent of all time, who was never known.
Are failures always real failures? Is it possible that in certain situations, when a defeat is perceived, in reality it is not simply a different view on the part of the loser, which is not actually a loser at all?
Here is a video where you can see the skills of “El Mahico”: https://youtu.be/bevXDhugAfo?si=F6EdD-3mqe0d2HUe
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Hey Andrea, great story about “the Magician” 😉 I never heard about him until now. I personally even see a winner in your story, by doing something you love and are deeply passionate about and rejecting the move to something society maybe expects from you. As well as later in his life were he resigned from being a coach, it takes a big amount of confidence to state publicly that you think you are not made for a certain job.
Cool video! 🙂
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Hi Andrea. What stands out to me most from your story is ‘your’, or perhaps our common, definition of succes and faillure. It seems to me that Jorge has had a good footballing carreer, and I hope that he indeed had all the chances he wished to have fun and entertain. A carreer is not simply defined succesful (or not) based on the amount of games won, and the amount of goals scored. Jorge has always defined his own goals and wished, and accomplishing those goals makes it seem to me that his carreer was a resounding succes! This can obviously be extrapolated over a lot of other situations in live: clarify your goals, and you can find succes where others may not even be able to see it
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While it may sound cliché, one cannot discuss the theme of overcoming failures without mentioning Elon Musk. Often celebrated solely for his successes, Musk has encountered significant challenges and setbacks throughout his career, and one notable example revolves around SpaceX, his aerospace manufacturing company.
In the early 2000s, Musk invested a substantial amount of his personal funds into SpaceX with the ambitious goal of reducing space transportation costs and eventually colonizing Mars. However, the initial launches faced consecutive failures, with the three failed attempts of the Falcon 1 rocket between 2006 and 2008.
Even when confronted with great financial pressure, Musk was perseverant. He increased his personal investments and successfully convinced key stakeholders to continue supporting SpaceX. Finally, after overcoming multiple major setbacks, the fourth launch of Falcon 1 in 2008 was a success. Subsequently, SpaceX has achieved numerous milestones, including the development of the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy.
So, why spotlight Elon Musk in the context of failures? Beyond the financial losses, stress from decreasing stakeholder interest, and skepticism from experts in the field, Musk ultimately overcame all those challenges. His greatness is not solely attributed to having groundbreaking ideas; rather, it lies in his remarkable ability to learn from failures, iterate on designs, and maintain a long-term vision on everything he does.
This highlights the paramount importance of embracing failure as an intrinsic part of the journey toward success, using it to iterate, learn, and ultimately improve.
Bibliography:
https://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-the-story-of-how-spacex-got-to-this-incredible-moment-in-space-exploration
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He is quite controversial.Tho I love his words: “Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough”
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For me, Elon Musk is the greatest businessman. Other than him, most businessmen I know end up being slaves to money. They will eventually be pressured to abandon more risky practices and move into less risky investments that will allow their money to grow steadily. It’s worth learning from anyone who wants to be an entrepreneur. I firmly believe that when you really do something for your target customers, they will be willing to pay for you. A business that only thinks about making money will not last long.
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I really like Musk’s dedication for work. He even said that either getting the work done or die trying. It may be somewhat extreme, but you have to have that mindset to overcome difficult circumstances, especially in business.
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Kobe’s Comeback: From Rookie Airballs to NBA Legend
Kobe Bryant’s early career in the NBA was a challenging journey marked by a critical moment of failure. During the 1996-1997 playoffs against the Utah Jazz, Kobe, then a rookie, missed crucial shots in a pivotal game, resulting in a series of “airballs.” This was a public and daunting setback for the young athlete.
However, Kobe didn’t let this defeat define his career. He transformed his failure into a catalyst for growth. With unwavering dedication and intense training, he honed his skills, developing a relentless work ethic. This commitment to improvement was the turning point in Kobe’s career. Kobe’s resilience paid off. He evolved into one of basketball’s greatest players, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA championships
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The story of Kobe Bryant’s early struggles and subsequent triumph is a powerful illustration from the Failures chapter. It’s compelling to see how a moment of failure, especially one as public as Kobe’s missed shots during the playoffs, can be transformed into a significant turning point. This story beautifully encapsulates the essence of resilience in the face of setbacks.
Kobe’s journey reminds us that failures, no matter how daunting, are not the end but rather opportunities for growth and learning. His dedication to improving and refining his skills post-failure is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of turning challenges into stepping stones for success. It’s a great lesson in how relentless perseverance and a commitment to continuous improvement can lead to remarkable achievements. This story certainly sheds light on a crucial aspect of entrepreneurship – the ability to rebound from setbacks with increased vigor and determination, ultimately leading to greater heights.
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FTX was a cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2019 by Sam Bankman-Fried and some of his friends. While it quickly became a significant company, ranking as the third-largest cryptocurrency exchange with more than one million users in 2021, it filed for bankruptcy a year later, in 2022.
A key reason for its failure was the mismanagement of a sister company, Alameda Research, which was responsible for investing the money deposited on the FTX platform. While this failure could be seen as the downfall of yet another Ponzi scheme with a little cryptocurrency on top of it, their downfall was mostly due to mismanagement caused by nepotism. Most of the team members were friends, and they gave themselves permission to engage in risky transactions and take a large amount of risks.
In my opinion, this story illustrates that while working with friends can be a great experience, boundaries should still be enforced in the workplace—especially when working in compliance-heavy environments such as finance or the medical industry.
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The FTX saga serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of mixing personal relationships with professional responsibilities, especially in high-stakes industries like finance. It underscores the importance of maintaining professional boundaries and adhering to risk management protocols. The downfall of FTX, primarily due to mismanagement and risky decisions, highlights the critical need for checks and balances in any organization, regardless of the familiarity or trust among team members.
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In the ever-changing world of motorsports, sometimes failure is not just an end but a new beginning. Bianchi, once a racer for the Marussia team, left the racing scene forever after a tragic accident. However, his misfortune brought about profound changes for the entire Formula 1.
In the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, Bianchi collided with a recovery vehicle at the side of the track, sustaining fatal head injuries. This tragedy forced F1 to reflect on past wounds—Senna’s death, the neglect of driver safety—and acted as an incessant alarm, compelling a reevaluation of the core of racing—the safety of the drivers.
Prior to Bianchi, driver safety in F1 had not received sufficient attention. It was only after losing the genius racer Senna that the governing body resolved to prioritize safety. The legacy of safety in F1 cars thus began and continued for two decades.
However, Bianchi’s tragedy also sparked a revolution in head protection for drivers. In order to prevent similar accidents, the governing body developed the Halo system—a head protection device designed to shield drivers from significant harm during critical moments.
Despite facing initial rejection from the majority of teams, with some team managers openly expressing a willingness to remove it with a saw, the governing body was determined to implement the technology across all F1 cars. This decision was not driven by financial motives or political agendas but by a commitment to prioritize the lives of the drivers above all else.
Ultimately, in 2018, the Halo system was successfully integrated into F1 cars. In a significant incident at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in the same year, during Alonso’s airborne collision with Leclerc, the Halo played a crucial role in protecting the driver’s life by deflecting incoming debris.
Bianchi’s tragedy became a page in the safety history of F1, and the Halo system emerged as an innovative milestone. This story teaches us that sometimes, failure is not the end but a gateway to a new beginning. From Bianchi’s departure, we witness F1 seeking new values in the face of failure, with the safety of the drivers becoming a paramount concern—a profound transformation emerging from the shadows of tragedy.
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“Nobody is a prophet in their own land, but he is.” These are the words that could be used to describe the journey of Jack Andraka, known as “the Innovator”. Jack, since his childhood, has been passionate about science. At the age of 15, he surprised the world with his groundbreaking invention — an early detection test for pancreatic cancer¹².
Despite being a high school student with limited resources, Jack’s unnatural talent for innovation attracted the attention of the scientific community. His invention was not only highly sensitive but also inexpensive and non-invasive³. Despite receiving rejections from 199 research labs, Jack chose to persevere, driven by his desire not just to win, but to make a difference¹.
Because of his relentless pursuit of innovation, he often faced challenges. However, thanks to his talent and determination, his invention was recognized with the Gordon E. Moore Award at the 2012 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair¹. His work continued to gain recognition, and he was awarded the Truman Scholarship for his graduate studies¹.
Jack, back in his hometown of Crownsville, Maryland, continued to inspire and make a difference. He used his platform to advocate for science education and frequently spoke at schools, conferences, and TEDx events². He retired from his high school science projects at the age of 18 and decided to pursue a degree in biological physics at Stanford University².
Thus ends the story of one of the greatest young innovators of our time, who was known not just for his scientific achievements, but for his resilience and determination to make a difference.
Are failures always real failures? Or is it possible that in certain situations, when a defeat is perceived, it is not simply a different view on the part of the ‘loser’, which is not actually a loser at all?
Here is a video where you can see Jack Andraka’s TED Talk: [Jack Andraka’s TED Talk]. Enjoy watching! If you have any other questions or need further information, feel free to ask.
(1) Jack Andraka – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Andraka.
(2) About Me | Jack Andraka – official. https://jackandraka.com/about-me/.
(3) Jack Andraka – An Inspiring Teenager – Children’s Prize. https://childrensprize.org/jack-andraka/.
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A famous story of failure and eventual success involves Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb. Edison encountered numerous failures while trying to invent a functional electric light source. He tried thousands of filament materials before finding the right one. Edison famously said: “I did not fail. I just discovered 10,000 ways that didn’t work.” He persevered through countless failed attempts and finally invented the light bulb, which greatly changed the world. Edison’s story is a prime example of how viewing failure as a learning process can lead to breakthrough successes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Edison
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Here is a story about privilege and predefining factors not neccessarily being the most important (while still really important).
In the town of Königssee, Bavaria, we can see a reason for the german success in bobsledding. Altough the track got washed away by floods, it got rebuilt, despite the bad financial situation. Apart from that, the fact that there is a competitive sledding track is a huge privilege.
Still, not the richest people get the golden medals. While advantages from infrastructure are acknowledged, it is the spirit that proves decisive.
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Maarten van der Weijden is an open water swimmer whose life got flipped upside down when he was told he had leukemia. He went through painful treatments and came out of it almost two years later. At this point he trained continued his training, which against all the odds led him to win Olympic gold!
If you thought this was the only obstacle he had to push through, you’d be wrong. After his diagnosis, he has organized several events to raise money for cancer research and treatment. His – until recently – biggest event is the ’11stedenzwemtocht’ or 11 city swim tour. Normally this route is covered by ice skaters in the occasional cold winter in the Netherlands, however, Van der Weijden decided to swim this approximately 200km route. He had the support of the entire country, national television was broadcasting his achievement for all to see. Yet, in his first attempt in 2018, he had to quit after 163km after contracting a disease in the murky water. Many would have decided to keep it at that, clearly this was dangerous, and still he gathered 5 million Euros! So that was it? Van der Weijden said it was not. A year later he successfully swam the entire length of the tour and gathering an additional 6 million Euros for cancer research. He actually made it, after all the obstacles and failures, would he finally rest now? Again, he said no. He recently organized an ’11stedentriatlon’, where he again swam the entire tour. And cycled it. And ran it.
Now let us look at our own lives. Obstacles will present themselves, and we will fail at times. What makes us give up after encountering these setbacks? It can only be us. We decide to stop. We also decide to continue.
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In horse riding there is a common saying that goes like this: you’re not a real horse rider until you’ve fallen off 7 times. This saying has multiple purposes. It emphasizes the importance of falling and getting back up again. Additionally, it is an attempt to take away beginner’s fear of falling, by framing it as a normal part of the sport. Being too afraid of falling might prevent beginners from pushing themselves and taking risks. Another aspect is that it is expected for a rider to get right back on the horse unless they are severely injured. Even if there are light injuries, like a sprained wrist, it is standard to get back on, at least for a few minutes. This is supposed to prevent riders from developing a fear of riding.
Failing is a normal part of running a business and being afraid of it might prevent you from reaching your full potential. And when you fail, get right back on the horse.
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This is a very nice analogy, have been planning on learning horse riding but this kind of makes me rethink that. But nevertheless, it emphasizes how some of the scars you get along the journey can make you more confident and ready to go at problems. Mistakes are inevitable, so why not make them and learn from them…. But hopefully you don’t repeat them :).
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The Chicago Bulls’ struggles against the Detroit Pistons in the late 1980s and early 1990s, particularly in the NBA playoffs, demonstrate the importance of failure. Despite repeated defeats, Michael Jordan and the Bulls used these setbacks as learning opportunities. They analyzed their weaknesses, adapted their strategies, and committed to continuous improvement. Ultimately, their resilience, adaptability, and determination led them to overcome the Pistons and win multiple NBA championships. This story illustrates how failure can be a stepping stone to success in both sports and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of resilience, continuous improvement, adaptability, and mental toughness. This can be very well applied to starting a business.
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Absolutely agree with your perspective on the Chicago Bulls’ journey. Their ability to learn from failures, adapt, and commit to continuous improvement is a valuable lesson for both sports and entrepreneurship. Resilience and mental toughness are indeed key ingredients for success.
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Absolutely! The story of the Chicago Bulls’ journey, particularly their struggles and eventual triumph over the Detroit Pistons, epitomizes the constructive role of failure. Michael Jordan and his team’s approach to turning defeats into learning opportunities and adapting their game is a powerful lesson in resilience and continuous improvement.
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Story 2: Failure and Resilience
On 27 August 2004, in the final of the men’s 110-metre hurdles at the Athens Olympic Games, Liu Xiang broke the Olympic record with a time of 12 seconds and 91 seconds, becoming the first men’s Olympic champion in China’s track and field events. However, on 18 August 2008, Liu Xiang suffered a recurrence of his right Achilles tendon injury in the preliminaries of the men’s 110m hurdles at the Beijing Olympics and withdrew from the Olympic Games halfway through the competition.
Both events were hugely hotly debated on China’s social media at the time, especially the latter, where some people engaged in cyber-violence against him for pulling out midway through his home race, which later became a way for China to curb viewers’ excessive desire to win against Olympic athletes.
In 2009, he won three consecutive international events after his comeback, and his failure at the 2012 Olympics, again due to illness, was met with understanding and apologies from the Chinese audience.
(https://globalvoices.org/2012/08/12/china-hurdler-liu-xiangs-olympic-failure-provokes-fierce-debate/)
His story reflects the unpredictability of sport and business, where unforeseen circumstances can lead to failure despite rigorous preparation and a track record of previous success. However, it also emphasises the importance of resilience, as the spirit of continuing to work hard and strive for better, even after such public setbacks, can lead to future success and respect
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Golden State Warriors’ transformation in the NBA
Before their remarkable success in recent years, the Golden State Warriors experienced a prolonged period of failure. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the team struggled to make a significant impact in the NBA, often finishing near the bottom of the standings.
The turning point came with a change in ownership and leadership. Joe Lacob and Peter Guber acquired the team in 2010 and brought in new management, including Head Coach Steve Kerr. Despite initial efforts, the team faced setbacks, including a disappointing playoff loss in 2014-2015.
Rather than viewing failure as a roadblock, the Warriors used it as an opportunity for introspection and improvement. The team reevaluated its strategy, focused on player development, and embraced a distinctive playing style centered around three-point shooting and fast-paced offense.
The Warriors didn’t stick to the same unsuccessful strategies. Instead, they innovated and reinvented their playing style. In business, organizations must be willing to reassess and adapt their strategies in response to failure or changing market conditions.
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Starbucks Story
Completely avoiding failure is almost difficult. Starbucks, in the early 2000’s, led by Howard Schultz, had a major setback. The company’s ambitious growth strategy resulted in a reduction in the quality of the customer experience. Starbucks’ stock value crashed as a result, and the company started to lose its appeal.
Schultz regarded this time as an important chance for learning, not as a failure. In order to revitalise the brand, he took a number of audacious steps upon his return as CEO in 2008. Enhancing the customer experience, emphasising on the quality of the products, and revitalising the corporate culture were among Schultz’s top priorities.
One of Schultz’s most prominent actions was to temporarily close every Starbucks location for a day in order to retrain coffee baristas. This choice made it clear to both staff and consumers that Starbucks was dedicated to earning back its stellar image.
Schultz put Starbucks back on track with creative ideas back then like offering free Wi-Fi, online ordering option, and expanding the food menu. Under his direction, the business not only emerged from its recession but also saw historically high growth and profitability.
The Starbucks story emphasises the value of adaptability, resilience, and continuous improvement in business. Successful businesses, like Starbucks, embrace obstacles, learn from mistakes, and come out stronger and more resilient than before,rather than completely avoiding failure.
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Starbucks Story
Completely avoiding failure is almost difficult. Starbucks, in the 2000’s, led by Howard Schultz, had a major setback. The company’s ambitious growth strategy resulted in a reduction in the quality of the customer experience. Starbucks’ stock value crashed as a result, and the company started to lose its appeal.
Schultz regarded this time as an important chance for learning, not as a failure. In order to revitalise the brand, he took a number of audacious steps upon his return as CEO in 2008. Enhancing the customer experience, emphasising on the quality of the products, and revitalising the corporate culture were among Schultz’s top priorities.
One of Schultz’s most prominent actions was to temporarily close every Starbucks location for a day in order to retrain coffee baristas. This choice made it clear to both staff and consumers that Starbucks was dedicated to earning back its stellar image.
Schultz put Starbucks back on track with creative measures back then like offering free Wi-Fi, online ordering options, and expanding the food menu. Under his direction, the business not only emerged from its recession but also saw historically high growth and profitability.
The Starbucks story emphasises the value of adaptability, resilience, and continuous improvement in business. Successful businesses, embrace obstacles, learn from mistakes, and come out stronger and more resilient than before, rather than completely avoiding failure.
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Lori Jones, also known as “Lolo”, is an American hurdler and bobsledder. From her early struggles to her stunning victories, Jones has faced failure head-on and emerged stronger each time. One of her biggest failures came about at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Although she was favored to win the 100-meter hurdles, she stumbled on the penultimate hurdle, crushing her dreams of Olympic gold.
Despite the heartbreak, Jones didn’t let this setback define her. Instead, she used it as fuel to propel her forward. “A failure isn’t a failure if it prepares you for success tomorrow,” Jones once said, and she embodied these words in her journey. After Beijing, she learned from her mistakes and bounced back with determination to win the gold medal at the 2008 World Athletics Final.
Entrepreneurs will fail and several times at that. They must accept it is part of the journey. However, that is not an excuse to just move on. It is important to learn from failures and ensure the same type of mistakes do not happen in the future. We must learn from Jones that failure is not the end, but instead a crucial teachable moment that can help us rise even higher on the next attempt.
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This is indeed a great story on bouncing back from failures. This story reminds me of a quote from Michael Jordan
I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.
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Michael Oher, a real-life underdog athlete, overcame a challenging childhood marked by homelessness and family issues. Discovered for his football talent, he was taken in by the Tuohy family. With their support, Oher not only triumphed over academic and athletic hurdles but also earned a college football scholarship at the University of Mississippi. His journey continued in the NFL, playing as an offensive lineman and showcasing the power of resilience, determination, and supportive communities in overcoming adversity.
Entrepreneurs, like Oher, may encounter obstacles that seem insurmountable, requiring resilience to push through difficulties. The support Oher received from the Tuohy family parallels the importance of a supportive network for entrepreneurs. In business, having mentors, advisors, and a strong community can provide guidance and encouragement during tough times.
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Michael Oher, a real-life underdog athlete, overcame a challenging childhood marked by homelessness and family issues. Discovered for his football talent, he was taken in by the Tuohy family. With their support, Oher not only triumphed over academic and athletic hurdles but also earned a college football scholarship at the University of Mississippi. His journey continued in the NFL, playing as an offensive lineman and showcasing the power of resilience, determination, and supportive communities in overcoming adversity.
Entrepreneurs, like Oher, may encounter obstacles that seem insurmountable, requiring resilience to push through difficulties. The support Oher received from the Tuohy family parallels the importance of a supportive network for entrepreneurs. In business, having mentors, advisors, and a strong community can provide guidance and encouragement during tough times.
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Faillure is acceptable, normal, and even necessary. Still nobody likes to fail, and if that realization ever comes, it will still not be able to take away the sour taste of losing. This sour feeling is probably what lasted for Fernando Alonso after his fights in formula 1 with Sebastian Vettel. The two rivals were close to eachother for seasons long, and Alonso was extremely close to winning on multiple occasions, but he never would beat Vettel.
He would have, with just 8 more points (in seasons where almost 200 are earnt) been a 5 time champion instead of ‘just’ 2. On three occasions he was narrowly beaten by Vettel, and you can’t help but feel bad for Alonso, even though he has had one of the best carreers in F1.
The closeness to winning here is probably what makes losing even worse, as the victory was within reach. He is a sign however of not giving up, as he is still in the sport right now, as the oldest driver on the grid. He has earnt much respect from his racing carreer, and even though it could have been so much more, there was still a lot of success to enjoy. Learning from this we should embrace Alonso’s spirit. Even after a few failed startups, an entrepreneur can still be extremely succesful with the others he attempts, as long as he keeps trying.
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Hi Thijs!
It is really enlightening of what you describe in your story. “The closeness to winning here is probably what makes losing even worse, as the victory was within reach.” The cruelty of competitive sports is that there can only ever be one first-place winner. But also as you said, even if we lose sometimes it doesn’t mean we gain nothing, by trying and trying we can gain experience, patience, persistence and so on. These qualities are the keys to next successful, even more important than the result itself.
Nanxi
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Michael Oher, a real-life underdog athlete, overcame a challenging childhood marked by homelessness and family issues. Discovered for his football talent, he was taken in by the Tuohy family. With their support, Oher not only triumphed over academic and athletic hurdles but also earned a college football scholarship at the University of Mississippi. His journey continued in the NFL, playing as an offensive lineman and showcasing the power of resilience, determination, and supportive communities in overcoming adversity.
Entrepreneurs, like Oher, may encounter obstacles that seem insurmountable, requiring resilience to push through difficulties. The support Oher received from the Tuohy family parallels the importance of a supportive network for entrepreneurs. In business, having mentors, advisors, and a strong community can provide guidance and encouragement during tough times.
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Story III: The failure of BER
The Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) was supposed to open in 2011, but it got delayed many times and ended up costing a lot more money than planned. The main reason for the delays was that they found serious problems with the airport’s construction, like issues with the fire safety systems and wiring. They had to fix these problems, which took a long time and cost even more money.
Another problem was that the people in charge didn’t communicate well with each other. The government, construction companies, and airport staff didn’t work together smoothly, which made things even harder.
Finally, after many years of problems and spending a lot of extra money, BER opened in October 2020, almost 10 years later than planned. It was a big mess, and it showed how things can fail when there’s not good planning and cooperation.
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