One fails forward toward success

One fails forward toward success

Charles Kettering, an American inventor, engineer, and businessman, is often credited with the quote, "One fails forward toward success." This statement encapsulates Kettering's belief in the importance of learning from failure and using setbacks as stepping stones towards achieving one's goals.

Kettering's own life and career are a testament to the truth of this statement. He faced numerous failures and setbacks throughout his career, but he never let them deter him from pursuing his goals. Instead, he viewed each failure as an opportunity to learn and grow, and he used these experiences to fuel his creativity and innovation.

One of Kettering's most famous failures was his early attempts to develop an electric cash register. Despite investing a significant amount of time and money into the project, the cash register never gained widespread acceptance. However, instead of giving up, Kettering used this failure as a learning experience. He went on to develop the first electric starter for automobiles, a groundbreaking invention that revolutionized the automotive industry.

Kettering's philosophy of failing forward towards success is rooted in the belief that failure is not the end of the road, but rather a necessary part of the journey towards achieving one's goals. He understood that failure is inevitable in any creative endeavor, and that the key to success lies in how one responds to setbacks.