Have you ever chased a big, ambitious goal—only to “fail” and realize it was the best thing that could have happened to you?

Have you ever chased a big, ambitious goal—only to “fail” and realize it was the best thing that could have happened to you?

Sometimes what I call a “goal” is really just a beautifully wrapped setup for failure. It glitters with promise, but inside is something entirely different.
Success and failure aren’t fixed points – they’re shifting, personal, and deeply subjective.

And my brain? It’s a master illusionist.

It tells me I’m chasing a dream when I’m really running headlong into a wall. It whispers that a setback means I’m not good enough when, in fact, it’s laying the foundation for something bigger.

The real question is: Whose version of success am I chasing? Is it mine, rooted in self-knowledge and authenticity? Or is it a borrowed ambition – something that feeds my ego but starves the soul?

I’ve had moments when I’ve gone all in on a challenge, knowing full well it might blow up in my face. Years ago, I left a secure, high-paying role at Accenture to launch the U.S. office of a German consulting firm where I’d once worked.

At the time, they had no presence in the United States at all – I would be building it from the ground up. I knew it would be tough, but I believed in the mission and I had the backing of the partners. Then the recession of 2001 hit. Three years of work unraveled. On paper, it was a failure.

But here’s the thing: that “failure” cleared the path for one of the most extraordinary opportunities of my life – working in Japan for the CEO of Sony. It changed me in ways I couldn’t have imagined, enriching me financially, personally, and professionally.

Over time, I’ve learned there are two kinds of opportunities:

1. The ones that might break you but will also grow you.
2. The ones that feel safe, predictable, and rewarding – but keep you exactly where you are.

Both have their place.

But the first kind, while risky and uncomfortable, can transform your life in ways you only understand looking back.

Maybe the real definition of success isn’t about winning every time. Maybe it’s about walking away – win or lose – stronger, wiser, and ready for the next leap.

Your turn.
What’s the most valuable thing you’ve ever gained from a failure? Share it – you might inspire someone who’s in the middle of theirs right now.