Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.

In 1946, Winston Churchill gave a commencement speech at the University of Miami, where he uttered the words, “Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” 

We don’t have to look very far to find success stories. They’re everywhere. And I have talked about all the failures successful people have had along their journeys in many posts.  

But let’s break down what Winston said:

Success is not final.

The measurement of success is unique to each individual. Whether it’s generating wealth, having a growth mindset, or both, only you can cultivate your idea of what it means to be successful.

So, what happens when you find success? Do you enjoy it, and then you’re done? Of course not. Just like we are always growing, and our lives are ever-changing, how we define success and what we ultimately want is going to change over the years. It’s a constant process and we will always be putting forth effort. Even if you get to a point where you are happy where you are, it will take some effort to maintain where you are.

Failure is not fatal.

As I have mentioned many times before, failure is just experience. Every successful person has a long list of failures along their journey. Failure is part of the path to success.

There are lessons in failure that help you assess how to move forward. And if you’re willing to set aside the disappointment, you’re much closer to success than you think. In short, failure is a gift if you treat it as such.

Remember, true failure is not falling down. It’s refusing to get back up. 

It is the courage to continue that counts.

Having courage means being afraid or discouraged and still showing up anyway. It takes courage to chase your dreams, fight for them, and keep coming back when you get knocked down. It also takes perseverance. Courage and perseverance are what makes successful people the outliers. 

The courage to continue is the most important lesson here. At some point, you’ll get tired of failing or feeling like you’re not getting anywhere. It’s in these moments that you must keep going against all odds and persevere. You cannot rely solely on motivation to carry you through these times of doubt. You must become disciplined within yourself. I talk about how discipline is the key to continuing to move forward when all you feel like is giving up. You can read it here.