When you think about building a product, preparing for a competitive exam, or participating in a MasterChef contest, the first thought that comes to mind is obviously winning. But quotes like "Failure is the first step of success" do nothing but motivate you to embrace failure as if it’s something to welcome. Not being overwhelmed or scared by failure is one thing, but expecting failure to be waiting for you along the way is sheer pessimism.

Do you prepare divorce papers before taking your vows in marriage? Do you build your Tinder profile and wait for it to be left-swiped? Do you write a resignation email to your boss before even going for an interview? Of course not! People say "you learn from your failures," but what exactly do you learn? How not to fail? Imagine weighing 50 kg and wanting to gain 10 kg. You hit the gym, start heavy training, and cut your diet in half. After a month, what are you going to see in the mirror? A thinner you? Of course! So, what lesson did you learn? Not to do what you did before? Fine, but what's the end result? It’s not in your favor! You've lost weight, wasted a month, some money, and probably gained a new disorder. Success teaches you more than failure does. There are steps to becoming successful, but there's also a slide of failure. Success is always a better teacher than failure.

Now, you might think, "Okay, I perform my best, achieve success, and then what?" Because, as people tell you, “hit success once, pack your bags, book a one-way flight to Hawaii, sip on refreshing juices in the day, and expensive cocktails at night, never to return." But that’s not what success really is. Success is not about living out a fairytale life in an exotic place. Instead, it's about taking breaks after sprinting through your work, every few months throughout the year. Hitting success and being successful are two different things. Maintaining your success is what being successful is. It's not about achieving one-time accomplishments. It’s about celebrating your wins and treating yourself to things others may only dream of once in a lifetime. People read books about successful individuals, invite them on podcasts, and talk about them because those people inspire us. They are the ones holding the torch at the end of the path. So, ignore those who tell you that "failure is the first step of success" and unfollow the Instagram pages that misguide you with unrealistic, overwhelming quotes.