When I was young, I observed that nine out of ten things I did

Opening Scene
The soft glow of the morning light filters through the window, filling the room with warmth. Jack and Jeeny sit at the kitchen table, their mugs of coffee steaming gently between them. The quiet of the morning feels peaceful, with only the soft rustle of papers and the occasional sip of tea breaking the stillness. The world outside seems distant, its noise muted by the calm inside. Their conversation has shifted, becoming more reflective, the weight of the words they are about to discuss lingering in the air.

Host: The room feels almost serene, the light from the window casting soft shadows across the table. Jack looks at Jeeny, sensing that she’s about to share something that’s been on her mind. The moment between them feels still, as though everything has slowed down just enough for them to fully take in the depth of what’s being said.

Jeeny: (gently, her voice thoughtful) “I came across something George Bernard Shaw said that really struck me. He said, ‘When I was young, I observed that nine out of ten things I did were failures. So I did ten times more work.’ Isn’t that a powerful way to approach life?”

Jack: (nodding, his voice reflective) “It’s fascinating, isn’t it? The idea that failure doesn’t have to be a setback. For Shaw, it was an incentive — a reason to work harder, to keep pushing forward. It’s almost like he used the inevitability of failure as fuel for his effort, to keep trying even when things didn’t go as planned.”

Jeeny: (smiling faintly, her voice calm) “Exactly. Shaw doesn’t see failure as the end of the road. He sees it as part of the process, a sign that you’re trying, that you’re engaged in the work. And instead of letting those failures stop him, he just worked even harder.”

Host: The stillness in the room deepens, like the weight of Shaw’s words is sinking in between them. The soft light from the window reflects in Jack’s eyes, as he considers the idea of failure not as something to fear, but as something to embrace. The flicker of the lamp adds a quiet rhythm to the conversation, and Jeeny sits back slightly, her gaze thoughtful.

Jack: (his voice softer, almost in awe) “It’s humbling, isn’t it? We often think of failure as something that should be avoided, but Shaw shows us that failure is just a part of the journey. It’s not something to be afraid of, but something to accept and keep moving through. It’s about resilience, about choosing to do the work even when you don’t know if it will succeed.”

Jeeny: (nodding, her voice gentle but firm) “Exactly. Failure doesn’t define us. What defines us is how we respond to it. It’s the tenacity, the willingness to keep going even when things don’t work out. Shaw’s idea of doing ‘ten times more work’ isn’t about overexerting yourself for the sake of it — it’s about recognizing that effort is key, even if things don’t always go according to plan.”

Host: The quiet between them feels more profound now, as if the realization has settled into something deeper. The world outside continues its usual pace, but inside, Jack and Jeeny sit in the shared understanding that failure is not something to shy away from — it’s part of the process of growth and progress. The gentle flicker of the lamp seems to echo their new understanding, casting long, soft shadows across the room.

Jack: (with a small, reflective smile) “I think I see now. It’s not about the fear of failure. It’s about embracing it, understanding that failure is a part of the work. The key isn’t avoiding it — it’s doing more work, trying again, and using failure as a stepping stone to success.”

Jeeny: (smiling warmly, her voice affirming) “Exactly. It’s about showing up every day, no matter what. It’s about doing the work, even when things don’t turn out the way you want. Because the more you put in, the more you learn, the more you grow.”

Host: The room feels lighter now, as if the weight of their conversation has shifted into something more empowering. Jack and Jeeny sit in the quiet realization that failure isn’t an obstacle, but a part of the process. The path forward is not without setbacks, but with every failure, there’s an opportunity to work harder, to push further, and to grow stronger. The evening stretches on, but the understanding between them remains — that true success isn’t measured by perfection, but by the effort we put in, even when things don’t go as planned.