If you're 40 years old and you've never had a failure, you've

Opening Scene
The room is bathed in the soft glow of evening light, the gentle flicker of a candle adding warmth to the space. Jack and Jeeny sit together at the kitchen table, mugs of tea resting between them. The world outside feels far away, its noise muted by the calm inside. They’ve been discussing various aspects of success, but the conversation now shifts toward a topic that’s both personal and universal — failure. The air is still, but there’s an undercurrent of thoughtfulness between them.

Host: The quiet of the room feels almost deliberate, as though the words they are about to discuss are slowly settling into something more meaningful. Jeeny takes a deep breath, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup as she reflects on the quote she’s about to share.

Jeeny: (gently, her voice reflective) “I came across something Gloria Swanson said that really made me think: ‘If you’re 40 years old and you’ve never had a failure, you’ve been deprived.’ Isn’t that interesting? The idea that failure is actually a necessary part of growth — that it’s not something to be feared, but something to embrace.”

Jack: (nodding slowly, his voice thoughtful) “It’s an intriguing perspective, isn’t it? We usually think of failure as a setback, something we need to avoid. But Swanson flips that idea, suggesting that failure isn’t just an inevitable part of life — it’s a learning experience, something that helps shape us. In a way, not experiencing failure can be more damaging than the failure itself, because it means you’ve missed out on opportunities for growth.”

Jeeny: (smiling softly, her voice gentle) “Exactly. Failure isn’t just about mistakes — it’s about the resilience that comes from them. It’s the process of learning, adjusting, and moving forward. If you’ve never faced failure, you’ve never had to push through, never had to confront your limitations and then overcome them. You haven’t learned the true value of perseverance.”

Host: The stillness in the room deepens, the weight of their words hanging in the air like a quiet truth. The flicker of the candlelight casts long shadows across the table, and Jack leans forward slightly, his fingers lightly tapping the edge of his cup. The realization of Swanson’s words seems to be settling in between them — that failure isn’t a sign of defeat, but a necessary step on the road to growth and success.

Jack: (his voice softer, almost with a sense of understanding) “It’s fascinating, isn’t it? How much we fear failure. We’re taught to avoid it at all costs, but in doing so, we rob ourselves of the opportunity to learn. Success without failure doesn’t feel earned; it feels hollow. It’s the mistakes, the lessons we learn from them, that make success meaningful.”

Jeeny: (nodding, her voice reassuring) “Exactly. Without failure, you don’t know the value of success. You don’t know what it feels like to fall and get back up again. It’s like walking through life without ever facing any real challenges — it might seem easy, but it also means you haven’t pushed yourself, haven’t tested your limits.”

Host: The quiet of the room feels more profound now, the weight of their words creating a space of shared understanding. The flickering candlelight seems to underscore this realization — that failure isn’t just a setback, it’s an essential part of the process of becoming who we’re meant to be. Jack’s gaze softens, his mind clearly processing the depth of their conversation, while Jeeny watches him, her expression calm and knowing.

Jack: (smiling faintly, his voice thoughtful) “It’s a shift in mindset, isn’t it? To think of failure as a gift rather than something to be avoided. It’s a reminder that growth only comes when we’re willing to face the tough moments, when we’re willing to stumble and rise again. Without failure, we wouldn’t have the chance to truly learn and evolve.”

Jeeny: (nodding warmly, her voice affirming) “Yes, and in the end, it’s the resilience that defines us. The ability to keep moving forward, even when things don’t go as planned. That’s what makes success so meaningful. It’s not about avoiding failure, it’s about embracing it and using it to become stronger, wiser.”

Host: The room feels lighter now, as if their conversation has unlocked a new perspective. The warmth of the candlelight, the quiet understanding between them, and the weight of Swanson’s words seem to fill the space with clarity. Jack and Jeeny sit together, knowing that failure is not something to fear or avoid, but something to welcome as part of the process of becoming who we are meant to be.

Jack: (his voice calm but more confident) “I think I see it now. Failure is just part of the journey. It’s not an end, but a lesson, a necessary part of the growth process. Without it, we don’t get the chance to discover what we’re really capable of.”

Jeeny: (smiling softly, her voice reassuring) “Exactly. It’s the journey, with all its ups and downs, that shapes us. And it’s the failures that teach us the most about who we are and what we can achieve.”

Host: The evening stretches on, but the room feels brighter, filled with the realization that failure is not the opposite of success, but an integral part of it. Jack and Jeeny sit in the quiet of understanding that true growth comes from the lessons we learn when we stumble, when we fail, and when we rise again. The world outside continues, but inside, they know that it is the willingness to embrace failure that ultimately shapes the path to success.