[Section] - Personal and Professional Growth
Success and Failure
Understanding the nature of success encourages purpose (Vitality) and critical thinking (Inquiry).
Reflecting on wins builds growth (Inquiry) and encourages continued effort and growth (Perseverance).
Failure teaches resilience (Perseverance), insight (Inquiry), and adaptability.
TABLE OF CONTENTs - SUCCESS AND FAILURE
REFLECT - Self-Reflection Questions To Start The Learning Process
EXPLORE - Core Principles and Concepts About Success and Failure
EXAMINE - Lessons on Defining Success, Learning With Success, and Learning With Failure
ENGAGE - Engaging New Ideas and Applying Them in Daily Life
REFLECT - SUCCESS AND FAILURE
Self-reflection is a powerful tool to increase self-awareness and prepare mentally and emotionally to engage new ideas!
…
As you begin to think about your own experiences in Success and Failure, ask yourself the following questions.
How do I personally define success, and does it come from achievement, effort, growth, or something else?
How do I usually react to failure? Do I reflect and grow, or avoid thinking about it?
Do I connect my value as a person to my wins and losses? If so, how can I think about it differently?
EXPLORE - SUCCESS AND FAILURE
Build emotional and practical connections to new ideas!
…
Success often gets defined by wins, trophies, grades, or awards. While those accomplishments are worth celebrating, true success runs deeper. Success is about consistent effort, steady improvement, and staying true to your values and goals. Some of your most meaningful successes will not always show up on a scoreboard or report card but in the habits you build and the person you become along the way.
When you achieve success, it is important to take time to reflect on what contributed to that outcome. Recognizing the hard work, preparation, and discipline that led to a positive result helps you understand what is working well. Success also gives you an opportunity to build confidence, knowing that your approach and effort are paying off.
Success can also become a learning tool. Instead of simply celebrating a win, ask yourself what you can carry forward from that experience. What routines, strategies, or mindsets helped you succeed? By studying your successes, you strengthen your ability to repeat positive results in the future.
Failure is a different kind of teacher. It can feel frustrating and disappointing when things do not go as planned, but failure often provides some of the most valuable lessons. It forces you to examine what went wrong, where you can improve, and how you can adjust your approach moving forward. Without these lessons, growth becomes much harder.
Handling failure requires honesty and self-reflection. Blaming others or making excuses prevents you from learning. Instead, look at what you could have done differently. Were you prepared? Did you manage your time well? Were there areas where you lost focus or allowed distractions to get in your way? Honest answers lead to meaningful growth.
Your attitude after failure matters just as much as your performance. A setback does not define you as an athlete or a student. Everyone experiences failure at some point. What separates strong performers is their willingness to stay focused, make adjustments, and continue working toward their goals even after things do not go as planned.
Success and failure are not permanent. A victory today does not guarantee success tomorrow, and a failure today does not mean you cannot succeed in the future. Each experience is part of your larger journey. What matters is how you respond and keep moving forward.
EXAMINE - Defining Success
Success is not always about being the best. It is about doing your best, staying true to your values, and improving over time. Defining success on your own terms helps you stay grounded and focused.
Success means different things to different people. What feels like an achievement to one person may not carry the same meaning for someone else.
For some, success may be earning a good grade. For others, it may be showing up and giving full effort, even when motivation is low.
Success can be internal, like building confidence, or external, like winning a competition or earning a scholarship. Both kinds matter and often influence each other.
The most lasting success comes from effort, consistency, and growth. These habits build a strong foundation that keeps you moving forward.
When you know your definition of success, it is easier to set goals and stay focused. You are less likely to compare yourself unfairly to others.
Success does not have to be loud. Quiet wins, like staying disciplined or overcoming fear, build just as much character and momentum.
Be careful not to copy other people’s definitions of success. You will stay more motivated when you are chasing goals that actually matter to you.
Success is often built from habits, not just big moments. Daily routines and consistent effort lead to long-term achievement.
You can be proud of your success without being arrogant. Gratitude and humility will help you maintain good relationships and team culture.
Reflecting on what led to your success helps you repeat those choices in the future. Success becomes more sustainable when you understand the process behind it.
…
EXAMINE - Learning With Success
Success is more than just the outcome. It’s also a chance to reflect on what you did well and how you can build on that momentum. Use your success to strengthen your routines and strategies.
Success is more than just the outcome. It’s also a chance to reflect on what you did well and how you can build on that momentum. Use your success to strengthen your routines and strategies.
After a success, take time to think about what made it possible. Reflection helps you see which habits are worth repeating.
Identify the habits, routines, or mindsets that helped you reach your goal. Recognizing those patterns builds confidence and helps you scale up.
Don’t assume success means you have nothing left to learn. Even your best moments contain small lessons that can prepare you for tougher challenges ahead.
Celebrate your wins, but stay focused on your bigger goals. This keeps you from becoming complacent or losing momentum.
Success can build emotional momentum. Positive emotions from one achievement can give you the energy to tackle the next challenge.
Share your success with others, especially your team or support system. Celebrating together strengthens bonds and builds a positive culture.
Success can also reveal areas where you still have room to grow. Sometimes, even when the result is good, the process can still be improved.
Recognize how preparation and effort contributed to your result. This reinforces the idea that your choices matter more than luck.
Stay humble. A grounded mindset helps you respond well to both praise and pressure.
Use small successes to build confidence. Each win becomes proof that you are capable of learning, improving, and achieving.
…
EXAMINE - Learning With Failure
Failure is not the opposite of success. It is one of the ways you get there. When you reflect on mistakes and make adjustments, you turn failure into progress.
Failure is not the opposite of success. It is one of the ways you get there. When you reflect on mistakes and make adjustments, you turn failure into progress.
Failure is a normal part of growth. It shows up whenever you are challenging yourself to improve.
Reflect on what happened without blaming yourself or others. Owning your part helps you focus on what you can control next time.
Ask, “What could I have done differently?” rather than “Why did I mess up?” Productive questions help you find real solutions.
Use failure as feedback. Each mistake offers clues about how to adjust your habits, skills, or mindset.
Failure can reveal weaknesses, but it can also build strength. Responding with determination teaches you how to persevere.
Avoid letting failure define your identity. You are always more than your performance in one moment.
Talk about your setbacks with someone you trust. Processing failure out loud often leads to new insights and support.
Make a plan to improve based on what you learned. Taking action turns reflection into growth.
Remind yourself that even the best athletes and students fail. What sets them apart is how they adapt and respond.
Keep showing up. Consistency after failure builds the mental toughness that will help you succeed long-term.
…
ENGAGE - SUCCESS AND FAILURE
Please look over the following prompts. You’ll be asked to participate in a short discussion about what you have learned, either individually or in a group, with a REBOOT Coach and/or guest speakers. Think about how these lessons will benefit you most in school, competition, and life!
…
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF :
[Defining Success]
How do you personally define “success”? Is your definition based more on outcome, effort, improvement, catharsis, or something else?
[Learning through Success]
Think about a recent success you experienced. What did you do well, and what lessons can you take from that success to repeat or build on it?
[Learning through Failure]
Think of a time when something didn’t go as planned. What did you learn about yourself from that failure, and how has it shaped your approach since then?
QUESTIONS TO ASK OTHERS :
[Defining Success]
How do you help student-athletes create healthy, meaningful definitions of success beyond just stats or winning outcomes?
[Learning through Success]
What do you encourage students to reflect on after a win or achievement, and how do you keep them growing rather than getting complacent?
[Learning through Failure]
What advice do you give to students who feel defeated after a setback? How do you help them see failure as part of the process of growth?
Additional Resources - SUCCESS AND FAILURE
If you would like to learn more about Success and Failure, please consider the following resources!
FLCC Athletics - 8/GREAT - HANDOUT - SUCCESS AND FAILURE [PDF]
SUCCESS AND FAILURE
Michael Van Etten - REBOOT - Didactic Tactics LLC - All Rights Reserved