The Science of Failing Forward
My Reason for Writing This
One of the hardest things for me to watch as a coach or trainer is seeing an athlete fail.
But what’s even harder to watch… is an athlete quitting.
Whenever I first meet an athlete, one of my favorite questions to ask is:
“What’s the goal?” or “What’s the dream?”
There’s something powerful about hearing an athlete speak their dream out loud, it shows commitment, direction, and belief. And as a coach, helping someone chase that dream is a dream in itself.
But what most people don’t realize is that failure is almost guaranteed along the way. You will fail multiple times. You’ll question whether the dream is even worth it.
So let’s talk about failure.
What Is Failure?
Failure is simply the condition or event of not achieving a desired goal, expectation, or standard.
Every great athlete talks about their failures — the grind, the setbacks, the moments they wanted to quit.
But what rarely gets talked about is how to process failure.
The Science of Failing Forward
“Failing forward” means learning from failure so that you can become better than before.
Here’s how to apply it:
1. Understand Why You Failed
When you fail, break down what caused it.
Was it training? Preparation? A mistake in the game or race?
Understanding the “why” gives you control and it turns failure from emotion into information.
2. Take Action
Once you understand what led to the failure, make a change.
Adjust your training, your habits, or your strategy.
And then stick with it, give it at least 4–12 weeks before making any judgment. Real progress takes time, and sometimes may even make you worse at first.
3. Repeat the Process
Fail. Change. Train. Compete. Repeat.
The repetition of this cycle of learning, adjusting, and pushing forward is what builds elite athletes.
It’s not the absence of failure that leads to success, it’s the ability to react to failure with an intent to be better.
Final Thoughts
Learning from failure isn’t optional if you want to reach the top.
Without it, failure becomes the reason most athletes quit on their dreams.
Everyone talks about how you need to learn to fail, but the truth is, it’s not just about failing. It’s about learning tofail forward.
