27 Jan 2025

 Failure is not the opposite of success, but a crucial stepping stone on the path towards success.

Speaking at a workshop dubbed ‘Designing Your Year’ summit organised by Quantum Leap Academy in Francistown recently, Life coach and founder of the academy, Mr Jeremiah Dikgang challenged the common perception of failure as a terminal event.

He said understanding one’s failures, analysing their root causes and learning from the experience was paramount to growth and achieving long-term goals.

Attendees, mostly aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals focused on practical strategies for transforming setbacks into opportunities for learning and innovation.

Mr Dikgang stressed the importance of self-compassion, resilience, and a growth mindset in navigating the inevitable challenges of life.

He said the relationship between a person and their failures was not one of opposition, but of a profound interdependence.

Mr Dikgang said failure, was not the absence of success, but its fertile ground.

He said many people treated failure as a personal indictment and saw it as proof of their inadequacy, which was always a reason for them to give up.

“But that is a misunderstanding. Failure is simply feedback. It is like data. It tells you what is not working, what needs adjustment and what needs to be discarded,” said Mr Dikgang.

He said understanding their failures and asking the right questions was the key.

He insisted, was a stepping stone, a lesson learned, a piece of the puzzle that ultimately led him to where he is today, a successful life coach helping others navigate their own paths toward success.

Another life coach, Mompoloki Tsie encouraged entrepreneurs to understand competition, something he said helped individuals to focus on the vision.

He said individuals should always work on improving themselves so that when success came, they would be able to handle and sustain it.

He said embracing the success of others was key in personal development.

Mr Tsie emphasised having the right attitude, saying many people lost clients or relationships because of attitude.

He further urged participants to shun procrastination, laziness, negative thoughts and bad habits, but instead go out and hunt for wisdom in order to succeed in life.

Attendees praised Mr Dikgang’s insightful approach, stating that his emphasis on learning from mistakes offered a refreshing perspective on overcoming adversity.

One of the participants, Ms Josephine Baraedi said she had learnt that failure was inevitable.

“But it is our response to it that determines our future. What you have to do is to embrace it, learn from it, and move forward, stronger and wiser than before,” she added

Ms Baraedi said she had now realised that the journey to success was paved with both triumphs and tumbles and that it was the ability to rise from the tumbles that truly defined an individual.

The annual summit is a structured event designed to provide participants with practical skills in areas of goal setting, time management, overcoming obstacles, and building resilience.

These are not abstract concepts, but actionable strategies they can implement immediately.

TIn addition, participants become part of a network of like-minded individuals, creating a supportive environment for accountability, collaboration and shared progress.

This fosters a sense of community and reduces the isolation often experienced when pursuing ambitious goals.

It offers strategic planning because the summit moves beyond simple goal-setting, but focuses on the step-by-step creation of a comprehensive action plan.

This plan addresses potential challenges and provides contingency strategies, maximising the likelihood of success.

It equips participants with the tools and support they need to design and build the lives they envision, transform dreams into tangible realities for personal transformation. ENDS