“Failure is not the opposite of success. It is part of success”
“Failure is not the opposite of success. It is part of success” is an inspirational saying that has been printed on many images. “In Western culture, failure is regarded as the direct opposite of success. In truth, it is an integral part of success because it contributes to the learning process” was printed in the book Beating the Success Trap: Negotiating for the Life You Really Want and the Rewards You Deserve (2003) by Ed Brodow.
“The truth is that you’re going to fail — a lot. Get used to it! Make failure your friend. Those failures are not the opposite of success — they’re an integral part of success” was written by American self-help author, motivational speaker and entrepreneur Steve Pavlina on November 14, 2005. “Understand that failure is not the opposite of success. Failure is an essential part of success” was written by Pavlina on November 28, 2005.
Greek-American author and businesswoman Arianna Huffington is usually credited with the saying, but it’s uncertain on what date she said it first—or if she said it before Steve Pavlina. “Workers need to learn to accept failure as part and parcel of any entrepreneurial life. Failure isn’t the opposite of success, it’s an integral part of success” was said by Huffington in an interview with Selling Power in 2007. “Ms. Huffington lived up to her billing: ‘We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes—understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success’” was printed in the National Post (Don Mills, ON) on June 9, 2007. “Of the many things she (my mother—ed.) taught me—including the delightful notion that “Angels fly because they take themselves lightly”—the one that’s proved most useful in my work life is the understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s an integral part of success” was written by Huffington in a newspaper column published on March 17, 2011.
Wikipedia: Arianna Huffington
Arianna Stassinopoulos Huffington (born Ariadni-Anna Stasinopoulou, Greek: Αριάδνη-Άννα Στασινοπούλου, July 15, 1950) is a Greek-American author, syndicated columnist, and businesswoman. She is the founder of The Huffington Post, the founder and CEO of Thrive Global, and the author of fifteen books. In May 2005, she launched The Huffington Post, a news and blog site. In August 2016, she launched Thrive Global, a corporate and consumer well-being and productivity platform.
Google Books
Beating the Success Trap:
Negotiating for the Life You Really Want and the Rewards You Deserve
By Ed Brodow
New York, NY: HarperCollins
2003
Pg. 118:
In Western culture, failure is regarded as the direct opposite of success. In truth, it is an integral part of success because it contributes to the learning process.
Steve Pavlina
What Will Other People Think of You?
November 14, 2005
(...)
The truth is that you’re going to fail — a lot. Get used to it! Make failure your friend. Those failures are not the opposite of success — they’re an integral part of success. Understand that it’s absolutely, perfectly fine to go out and start a new business and watch it go bankrupt. It’s fine to enter a new relationship and watch it blow up in your face. It’s fine to give a speech and get booed off the stage.
Steve Pavlina
Do It Now
November 28, 2005
(...)
Understand that failure is not the opposite of success. Failure is an essential part of success. Once you succeed, no one will remember your failures anyway. Microsoft wasn’t Bill Gates’ and Paul Allen’s first business venture. Who remembers that their original Traf-o-Data business was a flop? The actor Jim Carey was booed off many a stage while a young comedian. We have electric light bulbs because Thomas Edison refused to give up even after 10,000 failed experiments. If the word “failure” is anathema to you, then reframe it: You either succeed, or you have a learning experience.
Google Books
Selling Power
Volume 27
2007
Pg. 59:
ARIANNA HUFFINGTON: Workers need to learn to accept failure as part and parcel of any entrepreneurial life. Failure isn’t the opposite of success, it’s an integral part of success.
9 June 2007, National Post (Don Mills, ON), “A night of puffery and Huffington” by Amoryn Engel, pg. FW12:
It was a hot night—not just the temperature!—at trendy downtown Toronto boite Atelier, as a group of spin doctors, business types, scene makers and media elite feted Arianna Huffington. Publisher of the Huffington Post, who ran for governor of California against Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ms. Huffington was in town to address the Power Within conference and promote her book On Becoming Fearless in Love, Work and Life. Known for her outspoken views, Ms. Huffington lived up to her billing: “We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes—understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.” She is also seriously funny and knows how to work a room!
Google Groups: 07_JevonsKids
Do it Now
鄧東陽
12/27/08
(...)
Understand that failure is not the opposite of success. Failure is an essential part of success. Once you succeed, no one will remember your failures anyway. Microsoft wasn’t Bill Gates’ and Paul Allen’s first business venture. Who remembers that their original Traf-o-Data business was a flop? The actor Jim Carey was booed off many a stage while a young comedian. We have electric light bulbs because Thomas Edison refused to give up even after 10,000 failed experiments. If the word “failure” is anathema to you, then reframe it: You either succeed, or you have a learning experience.
Twitter
Christopher Jenkins
@JobCaesar
If at first you don’t succeed….you’re about average. Failure is not the opposite of success, it’s PART of success.
10:38 AM - 23 May 2009
Twitter
Mike Ungerman
@mike2977
Failure is not the opposite of success. It is an essential part of success. Once you succeed, no one will remember your failures anyway.
1:14 AM - 20 Jun 2009
Twitter
Sammy D
@sammydavisTV
”... understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.”—Arianna Huffington
9:15 AM - 28 Jun 2009
Google Books
A Place of Yes: 1
10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out of Life
By Bethenny Frankel
New York, NY: Touchstone
2011
Pg. 136:
She also taught me to accept failure as part and parcel of life. It’s not the opposite of success; it’s an integral part of success. (...)—Arianna Huffington
17 March 2011, The Sentinel (Carlisle, PA), “Lessons for every woman” by Arianna Huffington, pg. A6, col. 2:
Of the many things she (my mother—ed.) taught me—including the delightful notion that “Angels fly because they take themselves lightly”—the one that’s proved most useful in my work life is the understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s an integral part of success.
Twitter
Tinashe Nyaruwanga
@tnyaruwanga
Failure is not the opposite of success; it is a stepping stone to success. Ariana Huffington #Inbound2013
3:34 AM - 18 Dec 2013
Business Insider
10 Things The Best Leaders Never Say
Jacquelyn Smith Sep. 15, 2014, 2:25 PM
(...)
Great leaders allow — even encourage — their people to fail forward; to turn blunders into building blocks, mishaps into stepping stones. “That’s why Thomas J. Watson, founder of IBM, advised, ‘The way to succeed is to double your failure rate.’ Or as Arianna Huffington says, ‘Failure is not the opposite of success; it’s part of success.’”
Inc.
March 3, 2017
65 Quotes That Will Motivate You to Reach Success
Failure isn’t your final destination.
By Gordon Tredgold Founder and CEO, Leadership Principles@gordontredgold
(...)
53. “We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes—understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.”—Arianna Huffington
Hello Giggles
19 powerful International Women’s Day quotes to get you inspired for March 8th
MOLLY THOMSON
March 07, 2018 10:44 am
(...)
“We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes — understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.” - Arianna Huffington
YourTango
50 New Year’s Resolutions To Live By In 2019
Mehruba Chowdhury
December 18, 2018
(...)
8. Don’t be afraid of failure.
Failure is not the opposite of success. It is part of success.” — Unknown