Remember, Failure is in the Eye of the Beholder
By Jason Zasky, New York Newsday, April 29, 2001

Have you failed recently? This time last year, "failure" was a word rarely heard, a testament to the booming economy and the optimism surrounding dot-coms. This year, as the Internet bubble burst and the stock market went south, failure is the buzzword. Everyone seems to have an opinion on it.

The commentators can be divided into two groups. First, there are those who have recently experienced failure and are trying to hide or make sense of it. Group two is the "I told you so's"—people who wagged their finger at anything Internet and now are delighting in the downturn—good ole schadenfreude.

It could be that both sides are obsessing down the wrong track. For one thing is clear from all of human history: Failure is a timeless subject, a universal experience. Truly, it's inevitable.

Unfortunately, many people view failure in an entirely negative light, finding their personal failures difficult to discuss or even acknowledge. Of course, it would be absurd to say that failure is a good thing, or to put a positive spin on every failure-related incident. Usually failing feels awful. But if you view it as a necessary part of life, it can help you go a long way.

Failure's most positive aspect is that you can learn from your mistakes, and the mistakes of others. The collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940 is the perfect example. Many of the suspension bridges built during the 1930s—including New York's Bronx-Whitestone—demonstrated an alarming tendency to undulate in the wind, and had to be retrofitted with corrective devices. Yet, the designer of the Tacoma Narrows ignored the wind-related problems of other suspension bridges and pushed the design envelope even farther. As a result, the Tacoma Narrows behaved like an amusement park ride—earning it the nickname Galloping Gertie—and it twisted apart in the wind a few months after it opened.

It's also important to remember that failure is in the eye of the beholder. Take Canadian golfer Moe Norman, who I like to refer to as "the greatest golfer the world has never known." Many professional golfers consider the 70-year-old Norman to be the finest ball-striker in history, yet he has lived most of his life in obscurity. When Norman demonstrates his unorthodox swing on the driving range of a PGA tour stop, all the pros crowd around to watch. Yet, his sad life story and lack of success on the PGA tour lead others to consider him a failure.

Expectations also play a major role. For instance, the Garth Brooks CD "Chris Gaines: Greatest Hits," sold more than two million copies but was perceived as a flop. Unfortunately for Brooks, his previous sales led people to expect 10 million copies automatically. But, by the standards of almost any other musician, two million in sales is cause for celebration.

Another common problem today is that people rush to judgment. Movies are judged a success or failure by opening weekend box-office receipts; Wall Street reacts dramatically to the latest drop in earnings. Yet, ultimate success or failure may take a long time to become evident. Take New Coke, for instance. It was considered the marketing disaster of the 1980s, yet in the long run it succeeded in revitalizing Coca-Cola's flagship product. What was once considered a past-its-prime formula is now referred to as Classic.

Sometimes a failure leads directly to success. In 1974, the copyright lapsed on "It's a Wonderful Life," much to the chagrin of director Frank Capra. Once television stations realized that they could run the movie royalty-free, it was on TV all the time. If not for a legal oversight, the film would never have slipped into the public domain and been introduced to millions of new viewers. Now, Capra's estate may not be much richer, but the film's a holiday treasure and a cultural icon.

All of this brings us around to the plight of the New York Islanders, the once-proud franchise, now viewed as a poster child for hockey failure. While many die-hard fans believe they understand why the team has failed to make the playoffs the past eight seasons, this is a good example of how failure is rarely a black-and-white issue. Some trace the problems to general manager Mike Milbury; others blame a long line of uncaring owners. But there is no single cause. The bottom line is that the Islanders now have ownership that is committed to turning the team around with younger players. It's hard for fans to remember, but failure is rarely a final destination.

If there's one common trait about people who are ultimately successful, it's persistence. The Wright Brothers didn't just build a plane one morning, take it out and fly it. They crashed prototypes many times before finally getting it right. As Mickey Rooney once said, "You always pass failure on the way to success."

This column appeared in the Sunday edition of New York Newsday, April 29, 2001
Copyright © 2001 Newsday, Inc.