12 Famous Women Share Failure Quotes on Overcoming Adversity
No one wants to fail. But as women, we have particular reasons to fear it. Research shows that if we do mess up, we're judged more harshly than our men in our positions would be, which leads us to take fewer risks, put ourselves forward for fewer opportunities, and play it safer when it comes to our lives and careers. According to Linda Kramer Jenning, who has written on this topic, “as a result of [this scrutiny], some women may not seize leadership opportunities, and that worries those committed to achieving gender equity.”
While it’s natural to fear failure—nobody likes screwing up—we have to stop letting it get in the way of taking chances. Take it from the incredibly successful women on this list, who yes, have all failed at one point in their career. Even Oprah, even Beyoncé! But what sets them apart is they didn’t let their mistakes keep them down—instead it fueled them to keep going. Let their stories inspire you to do the same.
Serena Williams
Williams is the GOAT. She's won a record 23 Grand Slam singles titles—including winning the Australian Open while pregnant—and still makes time to be an entrepreneur and fashion designer. But that doesn't mean she's never suffered a loss. Take the 2018 U.S. Open final, which she lost to relative newcomer Naomi Osaka. While it was visibly hard on Williams, she knows that being the best at what you do is not just about the victories. It's also about the failures. Williams once told The National, “I really think a champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall. I have fallen several times. Each time I just get up and dust myself off and I pray, and I’m able to do better or I’m able to get back to the level that I want to be on.”
