12.7 Kelvin Sampson: Managing Failure

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“The first step on the ladder of success is always failure. Prepare for failure. You are going to fail. We all fail. Figure it out. No one will feel sorry for you.” - Kelvin Sampson

How well do you handle failure?

Kelvin Sampson is an elite basketball coach who has taken multiple teams to Final Fours. He once said, “The first step on the ladder of success is always failure. Prepare for failure. You are going to fail. We all fail. Figure it out. No one will feel sorry for you.”

Nobody wants to mess up or fail, but failing is a part of the process. You don’t become successful instead of failing — you become successful because you learn to fail, adjust, and keep going.

Very few people start great. Growth begins when things don’t work. Failure isn’t unusual or personal. It’s normal and expected. The people who succeed aren’t the ones who avoid failure—they’re the ones who know how to respond to it.

What matters isn't failure — it’s what you do next, and your response to failure is what shapes your future.

Question of the Day: How can you handle failure better?

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