Turn Failure into Experience…into Success

Ever had one of those moments where everything should have worked, but didn’t?

The strategy was solid. The logic was sound. The intent was good.

And yet… it flopped.

Remember: failure isn’t the opposite of success, it’s the raw material of it.

In my 35+ years leading teams, turning around businesses, and now coaching CEOs and founders, I’ve learned this:

👉 Every “failure” contains a lesson. 👉 Every lesson, if applied, becomes experience. 👉 And that experience, used wisely, becomes your competitive advantage.

The trick is not avoiding failure, it’s extracting the value before it fades.

💡 Step 1: Reflect, Don’t React

When things go wrong, most people rush to blame... " It's the market, the team, the timing, the monsters under the bed!" 

Leaders pause. They ask:

• What was in my control?

• What did I assume that turned out false?

• What would I do differently next time?

That reflection turns emotion into information.

💡 Step 2: Reframe the Story

Failure stings because it attacks the ego. But experience builds when you detach the story from your self-worth. You are NOT defined by your mistakes.

Instead of “I failed”, try:

“I tested something. The result taught me something valuable.”

That subtle shift changes core elements; your confidence, your culture, and your decision-making.

💡 Step 3: Reapply the Learning

Knowledge unused is just regret in disguise. Leaders who grow don’t just understand the lesson, they integrate it.

Ask yourself:

• Where else can this insight apply?

• Who on my team could benefit from this story?

• How do I ensure I don’t repeat the same pattern?

Five Famous Failures Who Built Success

These leaders prove that the road to greatness is rarely straight and almost never smooth. It is often bumpy, bruising and brutal.

1️⃣ Sara Blakely (Spanx) – rejected by every manufacturer

Before she built a billion-dollar brand, Sara Blakely was a door-to-door fax machine salesperson with an idea for better women’s underwear. Manufacturers laughed her out of meetings. Instead of giving up, she learned enough about fabrics to do it herself, and became the youngest self-made female billionaire in America.

Lesson: When the gatekeepers say no, build your own gate.

2️⃣ Richard Branson (Virgin Group) – airline failures, balloon crashes, near bankruptcy

Branson’s record isn’t spotless... Virgin Cola, Virgin Brides, Virgin Cars all failed. But each misstep taught him agility, branding, and when to quit fast. Those lessons helped him build Virgin Atlantic and hundreds of successful ventures under the same daring spirit.

Lesson: Experiment boldly. Fail fast. Keep the brand alive.

3️⃣ Alan Sugar (Amstrad) – early products flopped, tech bet gone wrong

Before The Apprentice, Lord Sugar was written off as a loudmouthed trader whose cheap stereos broke down. His first computers were mocked by the tech press. But he learned to pivot fast, spotting consumer trends and keeping costs low. That turned Amstrad into a 1980s powerhouse.

Lesson: Ignore the critics. Learn fast, pivot faster.

4️⃣ Anita Roddick (The Body Shop) – doubted, dismissed, nearly bankrupt

When Anita Roddick opened her first Body Shop in Brighton, banks wouldn’t back her, and suppliers laughed at her ethical sourcing ideas. She scraped by on refilled bottles and handwritten labels, and created one of the most iconic ethical brands in history.

Lesson: Purpose and persistence beat polish every time.

5️⃣ Peter Jones (Dragon’s Den) – bankrupt at 28

Before becoming a Dragon, Peter Jones lost everything (materially any way) his computer business collapsed and he had to move back in with his parents. But he rebuilt from scratch, applying the hard lessons about cashflow, partners, and patience that he’d ignored the first time.

Lesson: Failure gives you the education success never will.

The Cycle of Growth

Failure → Reflection → Experience → Success.

You don’t skip the first step; you move through it faster and smarter. That’s what separates experienced leaders from repeated learners.

🧭 A Coach’s View

As a leadership coach, I’ve seen clients turn major setbacks... lost contracts, failed launches, even team breakdowns... into turning points. When you have someone to challenge your thinking (not judge it), you can find the gold in the rubble.

A coach helps you reflect, reframe, and reapply, far faster than trial and error alone.

Final Thought

Failure is a teacher, but you must be willing to be a student. The leaders who rise aren’t those who never stumble. They’re the ones who learn faster, adapt sooner, and bounce back stronger.

Paul Gibson – Leadership & Executive Coach I coach leaders to succeed, especially when things haven’t gone to plan.