Failures are not only inevitable but often necessary for growth. They touch every stage of life, from a toddler learning to walk to a leader managing a vast institution. While failure is universal, how people perceive and respond to it makes all the difference. Though we cannot insulate ourselves from failure, we can develop perspectives and transformative ways of dealing with it. Pankaj Mishra shares insights from a few notable Indian leaders who encountered failure and turned it into a stepping stone.
Nandan Nilekani, after losing his parliamentary seat in 2014, reflected that failure teaches invaluable lessons. By refocusing on what truly mattered to him, he contributed to transformative systems like Aadhaar and Unified Payments Interface (UPI). He reminds us that failure can redirect us toward our true purpose.
Uday Kotak, founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank, says, “If what you create does not outlive you, then you have failed.” His vision goes beyond temporary successes or setbacks, challenging us to strive for a legacy that endures.
Harsh Mariwala, founder of Marico, believes, “Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn.” His words highlight that some of life’s most transformative lessons emerge from failures.
Sridhar Vembu, the driving force behind Zoho, asserts, “A failure is only a failure if you never recover from it.” This perspective reminds us that failures can either weigh us down or become stepping stones to growth.
A.R. Rahman, the globally renowned musician, says, “You have never failed as long as you can be a source of goodness.” Rahman reframes success and failure, focusing instead on radiating goodness, irrespective of circumstances.
Even Jesus spoke about the transformative power of failure: “Unless a grain of wheat falls and dies, it cannot produce much fruit” (Jn. 12:24). True success often involves gracefully passing through failure, as these moments lead us inward and downward, fostering deep insights, creativity, and alignment with what truly matters.
Failures, when embraced, are not dead ends but opportunities for profound growth, new life, and renewed purpose.
Notes
Mishra, P. (2024). Against the grain: Lessons from the outliers. Penguin Books.
Indeed failures are the best teachers, if we wish to learn from them... both for the great and the small. Success in itself gets a new definition when we realize that failures could be considered mini-successes.
ReplyDeleteFailures are stepping stones to success
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree, every failure is an opportunity to rise again and shine.
ReplyDeleteThere are no failures only lessons to be learned. I read this sometime back and helped me take a much different view
ReplyDelete