I always teach my mid-career clients their failures contain gold that just needs unpacking. When I pivoted from my HR career into Executive Coaching, I had a failure that almost derailed me. Client on a high-profile program publicly refused to work with me making her grievances known to key stakeholders of my new budding career at a time! I had to step down from the program. I felt shame and considered leaving coaching. Instead I accepted invitation to a conference looking for "tricky cases" in coaching. My case got selected for a book publication, I got invited to speak at multiple conferences, I developed new networks, attracted new clients AND learned how to help my clients unpack gold in failures. All because I dared to unpack mine...

Setbacks? Lets think of them as plot twists in our success story! We have to reflect, extract lessons & pivot like a pro. Failure isn’t fatal it’s feedback in disguise that how i read that all the time . We need to wear our scars as medals of resilience because success is not final, failure is not fatal rather it is the courage to continue that counts always . Transform flops into fuel & setbacks into setups for going a long way all the time !

Setbacks in your career can take a toll on everyone. I saw firsthand the decision my wife made when we had children. She chose to put her career on pause to be a full-time mom. Yes, it was rewarding, and our daughters were incredibly lucky to have her home, but it also took a mental toll on her. Now that the kids are older, she’s back in the workforce, and I can see how much she gave up to be a mom. But what’s truly inspiring is how she’s dominating her career now—her determination and resilience shine through. It's a powerful reminder that the sacrifices we make, even if they don't feel noticed at the time, can shape us into something even stronger when the time is right

Turning Setbacks Into Strengths In my experience, setbacks are powerful teachers that shape our career journeys. One thing I have found helpful is reflecting on past failures to identify lessons and areas for growth. For instance, one time at work, I missed a critical deadline due to poor planning. Instead of dwelling on it, I used the experience to develop better time management skills, which have since become my strength. Some ways to get started include keeping a journal to track learnings, seeking feedback, and setting actionable goals. Remember, every failure is an opportunity to grow stronger and wiser in your career.

Setbacks in your career are tough, but they’re also powerful teachers. Start with kindness—toward yourself. Acknowledge your efforts and remind yourself that failure is part of growth, not a reflection of your worth. Reflect on what went wrong, but do it with curiosity, not judgment. Gratitude is your secret weapon: every setback offers lessons. Did it teach resilience? Adaptability? Use those insights to refine your approach and build a stronger foundation. Share your story—it inspires others and reminds you how far you’ve come. Celebrate the courage it took to try in the first place. By viewing failures as stepping stones and embracing them with gratitude, you’ll turn challenges into strengths that fuel future success.