Failure hits hard. But for many, it’s not the end of the road, it’s the beginning of something better.
In South Asia, especially in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, failure is often seen as shameful. But what if we changed the narrative? What if failure became the first sign of future strength?
In this article, we bring you interviews with individuals who found success after multiple failures. These are real people, students, professionals, dreamers, who stumbled, struggled, and eventually stood tall.
Let’s get into their stories, lessons, and what they can teach us about human resilience and emotional growth.
Why Failure Isn’t the End , It’s the First Chapter
Failure is usually seen as something negative, especially in our culture. Many families feel embarrassed when their child doesn’t pass an exam or get a job. But psychology tells us that failure is not weakness, it’s data. It tells us where to improve.
According to research in cognitive and behavioral psychology, people who fail and try again often perform better than those who succeed on the first attempt. Why? Because they develop stronger problem-solving skills, emotional regulation, and mental flexibility.
For example, 29-year-old Adeel from Sargodha failed his final B.Com exams twice. His parents stopped supporting his studies. But he worked in a photocopy shop, saved money, studied at night, and finally cleared his exams. Now, he runs a small accounting firm.
He says:
“The second failure broke me. But that break also rebuilt me. I stopped studying for marks and started studying for understanding.”
Failures create the raw material for wisdom. But only if we choose to reflect, not retreat.
Real Stories, Real Struggles , Interviews That Matter
We sat down with four individuals from across Pakistan who faced serious setbacks. Their stories reflect our own fears, but also offer hope.
1. Ali Raza – The Rejected Officer Who Became a Guide
Ali failed the CSS exam four times. Each failure brought depression, anxiety, and the fear of becoming “a burden.” But instead of giving up, he took a job as a career counselor in a school.
Today, he runs a free online counseling service helping rural students in South Punjab prepare for government exams.
Ali shares:
“My failure taught me more than CSS ever could. I found a purpose, to help others avoid the loneliness I felt.”
2. Zainab Fatima – From 14 Rejections to CEO
Zainab applied for dozens of jobs after her MBA. She faced 14 rejections, many without interviews. She was told her appearance wasn’t “corporate enough.”
So she started freelancing in digital marketing from her home in Karachi. Two years later, she founded her own firm with 11 employees.
“Rejections didn’t mean I was useless. They meant the system couldn’t see my value. So I created a space where I could be seen.”
3. Ramesh Kumar – Failed Three Times in Business
A textile entrepreneur from Faisalabad, Ramesh failed three times in setting up his garment business. Financial loss, family criticism, and mental stress nearly pushed him to depression.
He eventually succeeded with a small-scale kidswear brand using local materials and community labor.
“My first shop closed in 6 months. The second burned down. But I didn’t stop. Because I believed something was waiting for me.”
The Turning Point , What Made the Difference?
Across these interviews, we asked: What changed your direction?
Each person pointed to three key elements:
Mindset Shift – They stopped seeing failure as a sign of being not good enough. Instead, they saw it as a signal to adjust direction.
Support Systems – Whether it was a friend, mentor, or sibling, someone believed in them when they had stopped believing in themselves.
Small Wins – They didn’t wait for big success. A completed project, a happy client, a thank-you message, all were signs of progress.
Psychologists call this process cognitive reframing, changing the way we see a problem. Instead of saying, “I’m a failure,” they asked, “What can I learn from this?”
From Shame to Strength , Lessons for Our Readers
Many South Asians fear the question: “Log kya kahenge?” (What will people say?)
But every successful person we spoke to said the same thing:
“Once I stopped caring about others’ opinions, I started hearing my own voice.”
Lessons to carry:
Accept your failure without letting it define you.
Speak openly with someone about your loss.
Create a new version of your story, you are the author.
Use failure as feedback, not as judgment.
Instead of hiding your failure, use it as your resume.
Psychology Behind Bouncing Back
Let’s break down the psychology that supports this bounce-back behavior:
Growth Mindset
Coined by Dr. Carol Dweck, this idea means people believe abilities can improve with effort. Those with a growth mindset embrace failure as part of growth.
Learned Helplessness
This is when people stop trying because past failures made them believe success is impossible. Breaking this belief is essential.
Reframing
It’s about changing how you interpret events. For example:
“I lost the job” → “Maybe I wasn’t meant to stay there. Let me try a better match.”
These concepts aren’t just for therapy rooms, they work in real life.
Famous Global Examples Who Inspire Us Too
Big names also faced massive setbacks:
| Name | Failure | Later Success |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Edison | 1000 failed experiments | Invented the lightbulb |
| J.K. Rowling | 12 publisher rejections | Created Harry Potter |
| Amitabh Bachchan | Rejected due to voice | Became Bollywood icon |
| Abdul Sattar Edhi | Ignored, criticized | Founded Pakistan’s largest welfare system |
These stories tell us: You don’t need approval. You need action.
How You Can Turn Your Failure into Fuel
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Name your failure: Write it down clearly. Don’t hide it from yourself.
Ask what it taught you: Make a list, emotional, technical, social lessons.
Build your new plan: Start small. Be honest about what needs improvement.
Get support: Find a mentor, group, or friend who will listen, not judge.
Celebrate progress: Even 5% improvement is still movement.
“Fail fast, reflect deeply, restart smart.”
You don’t need to win the race. You just need to stay in it long enough.
Every Failure Holds a Future
Life will knock you down. But if you get up just one more time than you fall, you’re already winning.
Failure is not a wall, it’s a turning point. The people in this article didn’t have special luck or magic. They had the courage to try again.
Let these stories remind you:
You’re not alone. You’re not done. You’re just beginning.
We want to hear your story
If you’ve faced failure and found success, or are still fighting your way through, email us. Your story might help someone else keep going.
“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” – J.K. Rowling
TL;DR
This article shares inspiring interviews with everyday South Asians who failed multiple times but later succeeded by shifting their mindset, seeking support, and learning from setbacks. It highlights how emotional strength and practical actions turned rejection into meaningful achievements. Key psychological tools like growth mindset and cognitive reframing are explained simply. Readers are reminded that failure isn’t the end, it can be the start of something better.
Imran Shahzad, M.Sc. Psychology (BZU, 2012), shares real-world mental health tips and emotional guidance in simple English for everyday South Asian readers.