Introduction: From Fear to Stepping Stone
Many Indians grow up with a deep fear of failure, seeing it as something to avoid at all costs. Society often celebrates success loudly, while failures are swept under the carpet. This stigma creates immense pressure—students dread failing exams, entrepreneurs fear business flops, and athletes fear losing matches. But the reality is that failure is a natural part of the journey to success. Every mistake or loss is not the end; it’s a stepping stone—a lesson that brings us closer to our goals.
To unlock India’s full potential, we must change how we view failure: from a source of shame to a badge of experience that fuels growth.
Pullela Gopichand’s Wake-Up Call on Failure
A recent controversy brought the discussion of failure to the forefront. Pullela Gopichand, India’s chief badminton coach, made headlines by candidly addressing the harsh truth in sports:
“Reality of sports is that less than 1% of people who take up a discipline end up having it as a profession or career.”
In other words, over 99% of aspiring athletes don’t make it to the professional level. He lamented:
“I see players fail day in and day out. My heart goes out to them.”
Gopichand’s remarks went viral and drew sharp criticism. Many thought his blunt advice—essentially telling parents not to push kids into sports unless financially secure—was discouraging. After all, India prides itself on heroes who overcame the odds. Critics pointed out that numerous athletes from humble backgrounds have succeeded in sports. However, Gopichand wasn’t undermining their achievements; he was shining a light on the systemic challenges and the high failure rate in sports. His frustration stemmed from seeing countless athletes give their all, only to find limited opportunities to succeed at elite levels.
The public debate around his comment revealed a key issue: we are uncomfortable confronting failure rates, even when they’re grounded in reality. Instead of shooting the messenger, perhaps we need to address why failure is so common (and costly) in the first place and how we can support those who falter. Gopichand ultimately clarified that he wants sports to be for everyone, but India’s infrastructure and backup plans need improvement to safeguard those who don’t reach the top. His outspokenness served as a wake-up call—acknowledge the reality of failure so we can better prepare for success.
The Odds of Success: Hard Facts Across Fields
Failure rates are high in every competitive field, and acknowledging this can help us change our mindset. Let’s look at some eye-opening statistics:
Sports:
As Gopichand noted, fewer than 1% of athletes in India manage to make a stable career in sports. For every PV Sindhu or Neeraj Chopra, there are hundreds of talented players who never reach the limelight. Even among those who represent the country and win medals, many struggle afterward. Where are they today? Gopichand asks pointedly—many fade away without financial security or recognition.
This doesn’t mean pursuing sports is hopeless; it means failure is the norm before success strikes. For example, badminton star P.V. Sindhu had to settle for silver medals in 2017 and 2018 World Championships before finally clinching gold in 2019. Those earlier losses were steps toward her eventual triumph. Every champion’s path is paved with losses: a top tennis player might lose dozens of matches a year but learns from each defeat to come back stronger.
Arts and Entertainment:
The glamour of Bollywood and the arts hides a similar story of long odds. Almost 95% of budding actors fail to bag any promising project in their quest for stardom. For every celebrity we know, thousands of hopefuls struggle in obscurity.
Legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, now an icon, faced rejection and a string of flops early in his career. He was even turned down by All India Radio for having the “wrong” voice. After his debut, he featured in 12 consecutive flop films before his first hit with Zanjeer in 1973. Imagine—12 failures in a row! He often says those failures taught him resilience. Similarly, many singers, painters, and writers face repeated rejection before one breakthrough piece gets noticed. These stories show that behind the scenes of artistic success are countless auditions lost and projects that didn’t pan out.
Entrepreneurs and Professionals:
The business world might celebrate unicorn startups and top CEOs, but the failure rate for startups in India is around 90%. Nine out of ten new businesses eventually fold. Whether due to market challenges or funding drying up, most entrepreneurial ventures hit roadblocks or collapse. Even a visionary like N.R. Narayana Murthy, who founded Infosys, saw his first startup fail. In the late 1970s, he started a company called Softronics, which shut down within a year. He didn’t give up; he learned from it, took a job to regroup, and later launched Infosys.
Likewise, in other professions, setbacks are common. Many IAS aspirants attempt the civil services exam multiple times before clearing it, and most never do. The point is, whether it’s business or a career, the road to the top is usually not a straight line—it’s full of detours and dead ends that teach invaluable lessons.
Learning from Those Who Failed Forward
What separates people who ultimately succeed from those who give up is how they interpret and respond to failure. Let’s draw inspiration from a few real-life examples of Indians who failed forward—turning setbacks into comebacks:
🔹 Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (Scientist & Leader): His 1979 SLV-3 rocket crashed, but the failure led to India’s first satellite launch success in 1980.
🔹 Amitabh Bachchan (Actor): Rejected and faced 12 flop films, but persistence led to legendary stardom.
🔹 N.R. Narayana Murthy (Entrepreneur): His first company failed, but he learned, adapted, and later built Infosys.
🔹 P.V. Sindhu (Athlete): Lost multiple championship finals, but each loss made her stronger, culminating in a gold medal.
Each of these stories carries a powerful lesson: failure is not a dead end—it’s a detour redirecting us to a better path.
Changing the Narrative: Let’s Practice Academy’s Mission
At Let’s Practice Academy, we believe it’s time for a cultural shift. What if schools and workplaces felt as safe celebrating a failed attempt that taught something as they do celebrating a big success? We aim to reshape how India perceives failure by:
✅ Encouraging experimentation, mistakes, and learning without fear ✅ Providing mentorship and coaching for resilience ✅ Normalizing setbacks through real-life examples ✅ Helping parents and educators create supportive environments
Conclusion: Turning Failure into Fuel for Success
It’s time for India to stop fearing failure and start embracing it as a stepping stone to success. Let’s create a society where individuals feel empowered to take risks, innovate, and push boundaries—knowing that even if they fall, they have the strength to get back up.
At Let’s Practice Academy, we are committed to leading this change. Join us in this mindset revolution. Let’s talk about failure, act on it, accept it, and embrace it—because failure is not the end, but the beginning of growth.
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