The word “failure” makes most of us cringe. We’ve been taught to avoid it at all costs, viewing it as success’s opposite rather than a stepping stone toward achievement. Alejandro Betancourt, entrepreneur and author, offers a refreshing perspective in his aptly titled piece, “The Dreaded F-Word We All Try to Avoid: Failure.”
Reframing Our Relationship with Failure
“Failure is not something to dread but rather a guide to success,” Betancourt writes. This isn’t motivational fluff—it’s a practical philosophy that has guided his diverse career from founding ALMA Capital to launching luxury brands like WineCarer.
Betancourt challenges common misconceptions about failure: “The first is that failure is permanent. In truth, failure is a temporary setback, not an identity.” This distinction is crucial. When we separate our worth from our outcomes, we create space for growth.
As a single father of twins, Betancourt applies this principle to parenting. Children don’t learn to walk without falling countless times. Similarly, we can’t navigate complex business or personal challenges without occasional missteps.
Failure as Data, Not Disaster
What makes Betancourt’s approach valuable is its practicality. He suggests viewing failure not as a catastrophe but as a data point—valuable information guiding your next move.
“Study failures to glean insights,” he advises. “Ask yourself, ‘What went wrong and why? What can I learn from this?'” This analytical approach prevents us from getting stuck in regret and redirects energy toward improvement.
When ventures didn’t meet initial expectations, Betancourt didn’t interpret these outcomes as personal deficiencies. Instead, he extracted lessons that informed future decisions, leading to more sustainable success.
The Psychology of Embracing Setbacks
Alejandro Betancourt acknowledges the psychological barriers that make accepting failure difficult. Our mindset significantly impacts how we experience setbacks.
“A fixed mindset views failure as a negative judgment of innate ability,” he notes. “A growth mindset views failure as feedback to improve skills through effort.” Cultivating the latter doesn’t happen overnight but becomes easier with practice.
He recommends celebrating small wins along the journey. “Failure is part of a journey, not an endpoint,” Betancourt reminds us. This focus on incremental improvement sustains motivation even when facing obstacles.
A New Relationship with Failure
One practical strategy Betancourt advocates is studying others’ failure-to-success trajectories. “Read biographies of business, politics, and science leaders,” he suggests. “Learn how they overcame mistakes.”
This provides both perspective and inspiration. When we recognize that accomplished individuals experienced significant failures before achieving their goals, our own setbacks feel less isolating.
Betancourt’s philosophy invites us to develop a mature relationship with failure—one where we neither seek it out nor flee from it, but recognize its instructive value when it inevitably occurs.
“Release the assumption that failure means something is wrong with you,” he encourages. “If you fail, it means you haven’t found the solution yet.”
In a world obsessed with instant success and social media highlight reels, Betancourt’s grounded perspective offers a refreshing alternative. By embracing failure as part of any meaningful journey, we free ourselves to take the risks necessary for genuine innovation and growth.
As Alejandro Betancourt concludes, “The path to success is paved with failure—walk it boldly and unapologetically.”