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How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?

This is the story of a failure that reshaped who I am. To tell it, I need to take you back decadesto a time when I was young, ambitious, and unprepared for the blow that awaited me. I had cleared the officer-level exams for the Indian Army, a grueling test of intellect and determination. The next step was the interview, and I walked in with the quiet confidence of someone who’d already tasted victory. But I failed. Miserably. It wasn’t just a setbackit was a shockwave. I hadn’t seen it coming, and for days, I wandered in a haze, replaying the moment without understanding what had gone wrong. Then something shifted. My inner resolve woke up and took the reins. I stopped sulking and started dissecting. I retraced every step of the processevery question, every glance, every second I’d spent in that room. I analyzed it with brutal honesty, rethinking… How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?

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Something on your “to-do list” that never gets done

My to-do list is always long, but the chances of tasks being left incomplete are slim. This isn’t a boastjust a reflection of how I approach planning. I think carefully before adding anything to my list. After five decades on this planet, I know my limitations. With that awareness, I create a list of tasks I can realistically accomplish. Some, like cleaning out the storeroom in my Mumbai flat, remain unchecked. Others get done. Lately, I’ve been living alone in my house in Kerala due to work-related reasons. Here, I stick to a strict routine, ensuring every second of the day has a purpose. Whether it’s weeding the garden, exercising, or cooking, I never skip a task. The reason is simpleI have no one else to blame for slacking off!