UNDERSTAND: The Key to Unlocking the Lessons Within Failure

“The greatest honour in life is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall.”

Failure is unavoidable in life. No matter how much effort we put in, setbacks are bound to happen. However, what differentiates successful individuals from those who quit is their ability to understand failure. It’s not just about recognizing that something has gone wrong—it’s about deeply analyzing why it happened and what lessons can be learned from it.

The Wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 2, Verse 13) states:

“As a soul evolves from childhood to youth and then to old age, in the same way, a person experiences happiness and sorrow. A wise individual remains undisturbed by these changes.”

Similarly, failure is just another phase in life. It is neither permanent nor the end of the journey—it is an opportunity to learn, adapt, and grow.

Why is Understanding Failure Important?

• Understanding removes fear – When we truly grasp what failure is, we stop fearing it and start recognizing it as a necessary part of growth.
• Understanding shifts blame into responsibility – Instead of blaming circumstances, people, or fate, we take charge of our learning and improvement.
• Understanding helps avoid repeated mistakes – Without proper reflection, we risk falling into the same patterns repeatedly.

Many of the world’s greatest leaders, innovators, and thinkers have transformed failure into a stepping stone simply by identifying what went wrong and applying those lessons to improve.

1. Henry Ford: Accepting Failure as Feedback

Before founding the Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford faced multiple business failures. His first automobile venture, the Detroit Automobile Company, failed due to poor design and high production costs. Many would have given up, but Ford took the time to analyze what went wrong.

He realized:

• He needed a more efficient production system to make cars affordable.
• The cars had to be within reach of the masses, not just the wealthy.
• He had to prioritize mass production over expensive craftsmanship.

With this understanding, Ford introduced the assembly line system, revolutionizing the automobile industry. He famously said:

“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”

Had he not learned from his mistakes, he might never have built one of the most successful automobile companies in history.

2. Karna’s Tale: Misinterpreting Destiny in the Mahabharata

In the Mahabharata, Karna is a tragic figure who suffered multiple failures—not because he lacked talent, but because he misunderstood his circumstances.

Karna was as skilled a warrior as Arjuna, but he:

• Aligned himself with the wrong allies (Duryodhana), believing loyalty to a friend outweighed righteousness.
• Failed to recognize his own worth, allowing anger and resentment to cloud his judgment.
• Blamed fate instead of strategizing ways to change his situation.

This misunderstanding led to repeated setbacks, despite his immense talent. The Mahabharata teaches us that understanding our choices, strengths, and surroundings is crucial for overcoming failure.

Had Karna paused to reflect on his situation instead of reacting emotionally, he might have chosen a path leading to success rather than tragedy.

3. Walt Disney: Using Rejection as Redirection

Today, Disney is one of the biggest entertainment empires in the world. But few know that Walt Disney was once fired from a newspaper job for “lacking imagination.”

His early venture, Laugh-O-Gram Studios, also failed, leaving him bankrupt. Instead of giving up, he took time to understand why he failed:

• He was too focused on short-term projects instead of a long-term vision.
• He needed to create characters and stories with deeper emotional connections.
• He lacked business experience and needed to partner with people who understood finance.

Applying these insights, he created Mickey Mouse, a character that transformed animation, and later built Disneyland, a dream that was once deemed impossible.

Disney’s story reminds us that failure is not a sign of a lack of talent—it is an invitation to refine our approach.

4. Understanding Failure in Indian Business: Narayana Murthy & Infosys

Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys, began his entrepreneurial journey with a failed business, Softronics. The company failed because:

• It lacked financial backing.
• The Indian market wasn’t yet ready for IT services.

Instead of becoming discouraged, Murthy analyzed the reasons for failure and used those insights to build Infosys, which later became one of the most successful IT companies in the world.

His famous words reflect his understanding of failure:
“Growth is uncomfortable. Change is uncomfortable. However, nothing is as uncomfortable as being stuck where you don’t belong.”

5. The Parable of the Farmer and the Lost Horse

An ancient Chinese parable illustrates the importance of understanding failure with a broader perspective.

• A farmer’s horse ran away, and his neighbors said, “What bad luck!” The farmer simply replied, “Maybe.”
• A few days later, the horse returned with several wild horses. The neighbors exclaimed, “What good fortune! “Again, the farmer said, “Maybe.”
• Later, his son broke his leg while taming one of the wild horses. The neighbours pitied him, but again, the farmer responded, “Maybe.”
• Soon, soldiers came to recruit young men for war, but his son was spared due to his broken leg.

This parable reminds us that failure and success are not absolute—they depend on how we perceive and understand them.

How to Learn from Failure

• Take a step back and observe – Avoid reacting emotionally. Give yourself time to reflect.
• Ask ‘Why’ multiple times – Keep questioning the root cause of failure.
• Separate emotion from logic – Avoid self-blame or anger; focus on facts.
• Look for patterns – Are similar failures occurring in different areas?
• Seek feedback – Learn from mentors, colleagues, or books.
• Reframe the experience – Instead of seeing failure as an end, view it as part of progress.

As Swami Vivekananda wisely said:
“In a day when you don’t come across any problems, you can be sure that you are traveling on the wrong path.”

Failure is not a problem—it is a reminder to improve.

Final Thoughts: Understand, Don’t Just Experience

Failure is inevitable, but understanding failure is a choice.

• Henry Ford understood that mass production was the key to affordable cars.
• Karna’s misunderstanding of fate led to his downfall in the Mahabharata.
• Walt Disney learned that creativity needed business acumen to succeed.
• Narayana Murthy understood why Softronics failed and applied those lessons to Infosys.
• The wise farmer in the parable saw failure and success as temporary, neither overreacting nor losing hope.

So, the next time you face failure, don’t fear it—understand it. Because understanding failure is the first step toward turning it into success.

As Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam said:
“Don’t fear failure. If you fail, learn from it and start again. In failure, there is a possibility of success.”

Dr. Prahlada N.B
MBBS (JJMMC), MS (PGIMER, Chandigarh). 
MBA in Healthcare & Hospital Management (BITS, Pilani), 
Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Leadership and Innovation (MIT, USA)
Executive Programme in Strategic Management (IIM, Lucknow)
Senior Management Programme in Healthcare Management (IIM, Kozhikode)
Advanced Certificate in AI for Digital Health and Imaging Program (IISc, Bengaluru). 

Senior Professor and former Head, 
Department of ENT-Head & Neck Surgery, Skull Base Surgery, Cochlear Implant Surgery. 
Basaveshwara Medical College & Hospital, Chitradurga, Karnataka, India. 

My Vision: I don’t want to be a genius.  I want to be a person with a bundle of experience. 

My Mission: Help others achieve their life’s objectives in my presence or absence!

My Values:  Creating value for others.