TRANSCRIPT
Brian: Welcome
to English on the Go, the podcast where you can learn everywhere and speak
everywhere! I'm your host, Brian.
Brian: Today,
we're tackling a topic that's relevant to everyone, regardless of age,
profession, or background: dealing with failure and learning from mistakes.
Brian: Learning
English is a journey filled with ups and downs, just like life itself. By
exploring this topic, we'll not only improve our language skills but also gain
valuable insights into personal growth and resilience.
Brian: So,
whether you're on your daily commute, at the gym, or relaxing at home, let's
dive in and learn together!
Brian: Failure
and mistakes are inevitable parts of life and learning. Yet, many of us
struggle to cope with them effectively.
Brian: In
today's episode, we'll explore how successful people view failure, strategies
for bouncing back from setbacks, and how to transform mistakes into valuable
learning experiences.
Brian: Remember,
every English learner makes mistakes – it's a crucial part of the learning
process. So, let's embrace our errors and use them as stepping stones to
fluency!
Brian: Before
we jump into our main conversation, let's warm up with some thought-provoking
questions.
Brian: As you listen to the discussion later, keep these questions in
mind — and feel free to reflect on your own experiences.
Brian: Question
1 Can you recall a time when you failed at something important to you? How did
you feel?
Brian: Maybe you failed an important exam, a job interview, or a
personal project. You might’ve felt disappointed, frustrated, or even motivated
to try again.
Brian: Question
2 What's your typical reaction when you make a mistake while speaking English?
Brian: Some people get embarrassed or nervous, while others laugh it off
or use it as a learning moment.
Brian: Question
3 Do you think society's attitude towards failure helps or hinders personal
growth?
Brian: In some cultures, failure is seen as a stepping stone to success.
In others, it’s judged more harshly. How society reacts can really influence
how we see ourselves.
Brian: Take
a moment to reflect. These questions will help you connect more deeply with
today’s topic
Brian: Now,
let's listen in on a conversation between Alice, a life coach, and David, a
young entrepreneur. They're discussing their experiences with failure and the
lessons they've learned along the way.
Alice: Hi David,
thanks for joining me today. I understand you wanted to talk about dealing with
failure in business. Can you tell me a bit about your experience?
David: Sure,
Alice. Well, to cut a long story short, my first startup went belly up after
just 18 months. It was a real blow to my confidence, and for a while, I felt
like I was back to square one.
Alice: I can
imagine that must have been tough. Many entrepreneurs face similar challenges.
How did you cope with that setback?
David:
Initially, not well. I was down in the dumps for weeks. I kept replaying every
decision in my head, thinking, "If only I'd done this differently."
It was a vicious cycle of self-doubt and regret.
Alice:
That's a natural reaction. It's easy to get caught up in the "what
ifs." But at some point, you must have turned a corner. What changed?
David:
You're right. The turning point came when a mentor of mine said something that
really hit home. He told me, "Failure is not the opposite of success, it's
part of success." It made me realize I needed to change my perspective.
Alice:
That's a powerful mindset shift. How did you put that into practice?
David: Well,
I started by taking a long, hard look at what went wrong. Instead of beating
myself up, I tried to approach it like a detective, gathering clues about what
I could do better next time. It wasn't easy, but it was incredibly valuable.
Alice:
That's an excellent approach. Did you discover any specific lessons from that
process?
David:
Absolutely. I realized I had been so focused on my product that I neglected to
really understand my market. I also learned the importance of building a strong
team and delegating tasks. But perhaps the biggest lesson was about resilience
– the ability to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try again.
Alice: Those
are fantastic insights, David. Resilience is indeed crucial, not just in
business but in life. How has this experience changed your approach to new
ventures?
David: It's
been a game-changer, Alice. Now, I view setbacks as feedback rather than
failure. I'm much more open to constructive criticism and always looking for
ways to improve. I've also become more risk-aware without becoming risk-averse,
if that makes sense.
Alice: It
makes perfect sense. It sounds like you've found a healthy balance. Now, let's
talk about mistakes. In your current business, how do you handle mistakes when
they occur?
David: Great
question. I've tried to foster a culture where mistakes are seen as learning
opportunities. We have a "no-blame" policy, where the focus is on
finding solutions rather than pointing fingers. It's amazing how this has
improved team morale and innovation.
Alice:
That's a wonderful approach. It must make your team feel more comfortable
taking calculated risks.
David:
Exactly! And it's led to some of our best ideas. We even have a monthly
"Fail Forward" meeting where team members share mistakes they've made
and what they've learned. It's become one of our most valuable tools for
growth.
Alice: I
love that idea! It's a great way to normalize failure and extract value from
it. Now, shifting gears a bit, how do you think your experience with failure
has impacted your personal life?
David:
That's an interesting question. I'd say it's made me more empathetic. I'm much
quicker to offer support to friends or family when they're struggling. It's
also made me more patient with myself in other areas of life, like learning new
skills.
Alice:
That's a beautiful silver lining. It seems like your business failure has
contributed significantly to your personal growth.
David:
Absolutely. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want to go through it again, but I'm
grateful for the lessons. It's like they say, "Experience is what you get
when you didn't get what you wanted."
Alice: Well
put, David. Now, if you could give one piece of advice to someone who's just
experienced a major setback, what would it be?
David: I'd
say, don't waste your failure. It's painful, yes, but it's also an incredible
opportunity to learn and grow. Take the time to process your emotions, but then
roll up your sleeves and dig into the lessons. And remember, every successful
person you admire has failed numerous times – you're in good company!
Alice:
That's excellent advice, David. Thank you for sharing your insights and
experiences with us today. I'm sure our listeners will find a lot of value in
your story.
David: It's
been my pleasure, Alice. If my experience can help others navigate their own
failures and come out stronger, then sharing it has been worthwhile.
Brian: And
there you have it, listeners! A candid and insightful conversation about
dealing with failure and learning from mistakes. I hope you found it as
enlightening as I did.
Brian: Alright,
it's time to wrap up today's episode.
Brian: Failure
isn’t something to be feared—it’s something to be understood, embraced, and
used.
Brian: Whether
it’s your first business collapse, a personal misstep, or a team mistake,
there’s always a lesson to be found—if you’re willing to learn.
Brian: Here
are the key takeaways:
ü
Failure is part of success—not the opposite.
ü
Reflect like a
detective, not a critic.
ü
Identify clear
lessons from what went wrong.
ü
View setbacks
as feedback, not as final judgment.
ü
Create a
no-blame culture that encourages growth.
ü
Celebrate the
lessons learned from mistakes.
ü
Let failure
shape you into a more patient and empathetic person.
ü
And most
importantly—don’t waste your failure.
Brian: Every
stumble is a step forward—if you choose to stand back up.
Brian: Thanks
for tuning in, and remember: the road to success is often paved with missteps.
Keep learning, keep growing, and I’ll see you in the next episode of Englishon the Go.
POST-LISTENING QUESTIONS
1.
How has your attitude towards failure changed over
time? Can you think of a specific experience that influenced this change?
Maybe you used to be afraid of failing, but after a personal setback — like not
getting a job or doing poorly on a test — you learned that failure helped you
grow stronger or try a new path.
2.
In what ways can making mistakes actually benefit your
English learning journey?
Mistakes help you discover gaps in your knowledge, and they often lead to
deeper learning. For example, misusing a word in conversation may make you
remember it better next time.
3.
How might you apply David's "no-blame"
policy to your own life or work environment?
You could try being more understanding when a team member makes a mistake or
remind yourself not to feel ashamed when things go wrong — just treat it as
part of the process.
VOCABULARY SUMMARY
1.
✅ To cut
a long story short
2.
✅ Went
belly up
3.
✅ Back
to square one
4.
✅ Down
in the dumps
5.
✅ Vicious
cycle
6.
✅ Hit
home
7.
✅ To
take a long, hard look
8.
✅ To
foster a culture
9.
✅ Calculated
risks
10.
✅ Fail
Forward
11.
✅ Silver
lining
12.
✅ Roll
up your sleeves
Download Transcript and Exercise
EXERCISES
EXERCISE
1: Fill in the Blanks
Instruction:
Listen to the conversation and fill in the blanks with the appropriate word
Alice: Hi David, thanks for joining me today. I understand you wanted to talk about (1)________________. Can you tell me a bit about your experience?
David: Sure,
Alice. Well, to cut a long story short, my first startup (2)________________
after just 18 months. It was a real blow to my confidence, and for a while, I
felt like (3)________________.
Alice: I can
imagine that must have been tough. Many entrepreneurs face similar challenges.
How did you cope with that setback?
David: Initially,
not well. I was down in the dumps for weeks. I kept replaying every decision in
my head, thinking, "If only I'd done this differently." It was a
(4)________________ of self-doubt and regret.
Alice: That's
a natural reaction. It's easy to get caught up in the "what ifs." But
at some point, (5)________________. What changed?
David: You're
right. The turning point came when a mentor of mine said something that really
hit home. He told me, "Failure is not the opposite of success,
(6)________________." It made me realize I needed to change my
perspective.
Alice: That's
a powerful mindset shift. How did you put that into practice?
David: Well, I
started by taking a long, hard look at what went wrong. Instead of beating
myself up, I tried to approach it like a detective, (7)________________ about
what I could do better next time. It wasn't easy, but it was incredibly
valuable.
Alice: That's
an excellent approach. Did you discover any specific lessons from that process?
David: Absolutely.
I realized I had been so focused on my product that (8)________________. I also
learned the importance of building a strong team and delegating tasks. But
perhaps the biggest lesson was about resilience – (9)________________, dust
yourself off, and try again.
Alice: Those
are fantastic insights, David. Resilience is indeed crucial, not just in
business but in life. How has this experience changed your approach to new
ventures?
David: It's
been a game-changer, Alice. Now, I view setbacks as feedback rather than
failure. I'm much more open to constructive criticism and (10)________________.
I've also become more risk-aware without becoming risk-averse, if that makes
sense.
Alice: It
makes perfect sense. It sounds like you've found a healthy balance. Now, let's
talk about mistakes. In your current business, how do you handle mistakes when
they occur?
David: Great
question. I've tried to foster a culture where mistakes are seen as learning
opportunities. We have a "no-blame" policy, where the focus is on
finding solutions rather than (11)________________. It's amazing how this has
improved team morale and innovation.
Alice: That's
a wonderful approach. It must make your team feel more comfortable
(12)________________.
David: Exactly!
And it's led to some of our best ideas. We even have a monthly "Fail
Forward" meeting where team members share mistakes they've made and
(13)________________. It's become one of our most valuable tools for growth.
Alice: I love
that idea! It's a great way to normalize failure and (14)________________. Now,
shifting gears a bit, how do you think your experience with failure has
impacted your personal life?
David: That's
an interesting question. I'd say it's made me more empathetic. I'm much quicker
to offer support to friends or family when they're struggling. It's also made
me more patient with myself in other areas of life, (15)________________.
Alice: That's
a beautiful silver lining. It seems like your business failure has contributed
significantly to your personal growth.
David: Absolutely.
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want to go through it again, but I'm grateful
for the lessons. It's like they say, "Experience is what you get
(16)________________."
Alice: Well
put, David. Now, if you could give one piece of advice to someone who's just
experienced a major setback, what would it be?
David: I'd
say, don't waste your failure. It's painful, yes, but it's also an incredible
opportunity to learn and grow. Take the time to process your emotions, but then
roll up your sleeves and dig into the lessons. And remember, every successful
person you admire has failed numerous times – (17)________________!
Alice: That's
excellent advice, David. Thank you for sharing your insights and experiences
with us today. I'm sure our listeners will find a lot of value in your story.
David: It's been my pleasure, Alice. If my experience can help others navigate their own failures and come out stronger, then (18)________________.
Answer Key
1. dealing with failure in business
2. went belly up
3. I was back to square one
4. vicious cycle
5. you must have turned a corner
6. it's part of success
7. gathering clues
8. I neglected to really understand my market
9. the ability to pick yourself up
10. always looking for ways to improve
11. pointing fingers
12. taking calculated risks
13. what they've learned
14. extract value from it
15. like learning new skills
16. when you didn't get what you wanted
17. you're in good company
18. sharing it has been worthwhile
EXERCISE
2: True, False, Not Given
Instruction: Read
each statement carefully and mark it as True, False, or Not
Given based on the conversation.
1.
David’s first startup lasted for less than two years.
2.
Alice is David’s business mentor.
3.
David immediately recovered after his business failed.
4.
David's mentor told him that failure means you're not
meant for business.
5.
David found analyzing his failure to be a waste of
time.
6.
One of David’s biggest mistakes was not understanding
the market.
7.
David now avoids taking risks in business.
8.
David holds a monthly meeting to talk about business
success stories.
9.
David believes his failure has helped him grow
personally.
10. Alice had a similar experience with business failure.
Answer Key
1. TRUE
2. FALSE
3. FALSE
4. FALSE
5. FALSE
6. TRUE
7. FALSE
8. FALSE
9. TRUE
10. NOT GIVEN
EXERCISE
3: Multiple Choice Questions
Instruction: Choose
the correct answer for each question based on the information from the
conversation.
1.
What
was David's emotional state after his startup failed?
A. Relieved
B. Excited for a new opportunity
C. Depressed and regretful
D. Indifferent
2.
What
role did David’s mentor play in his recovery?
A. Helped David rebuild the business
B. Encouraged David to avoid risks
C. Provided a new business idea
D. Helped shift David’s mindset about failure
3.
According
to David, what was one key business lesson he learned?
A. Avoid criticism
B. Focus only on the product
C. Understand the market
D. Work alone for better focus
4.
What is
the purpose of the "Fail Forward" meeting in David’s company?
A. To discipline staff
B. To share and learn from mistakes
C. To brainstorm product ideas
D. To celebrate company milestones
5.
How did
failure affect David’s personal life?
A. He became more selfish
B. He lost confidence in all areas
C. He became more empathetic and patient
D. He stopped taking on new challenges
Answer Key
1. C. Depressed and regretful
2. D. Helped shift David’s mindset about failure
3. C. Understand the market
4. B. To share and learn from mistakes
5. C. He became more empathetic and patient
EXERCISE 4: Matching Information
Instruction: Match
each idea to the speaker who expressed it. (David or Alice)
|
Phrase |
Speaker |
|
1. Shared a
lesson from a mentor about failure |
|
|
2. Asked how
business failure impacted personal life |
|
|
3.
Encouraged viewing setbacks as feedback |
|
|
4. Was
impressed by the “Fail Forward” meeting |
|
|
5. Explained
the importance of resilience in business |
|
Answer Key
1. David
2. Alice
3. David
4. Alice
5. David
EXERCISE
5: Word Match
Instruction: Match
each term from the conversation with its correct definition.
|
Words/Phrases |
Meanings |
|
1. Down in the dumps |
A. To start again from the beginning |
|
2. To cut a long story short |
B. To prepare to work hard at
something |
|
3. Calculated risks |
C. Sad or depressed |
|
4. Fail Forward |
D. To fail or go bankrupt |
|
5. Back to square one |
E. To encourage development of
attitudes |
|
6. To take a long, hard look |
F. To tell only the main points |
|
7. Went belly up |
G. A carefully considered risk |
|
8. Hit home |
H. To examine thoroughly |
|
9. Vicious cycle |
I. A positive aspect of a negative
situation |
|
10. Roll up your sleeves |
J. To affect deeply or personally |
|
11. To foster a culture |
K. A situation where one problem
causes another |
|
12. Silver lining |
L. To learn and grow from failure |
Answer Key
1 – C
2 – F
3 – G
4 – L
5 – A
6 – H
7 – D
8 – J
9 – K
10 – B
11 – E
12 – I
EXERCISE
6: Choose the Correct Word
Instruction: Fill
in the blanks with the correct word from the options provided.
1.
David’s first startup went ___ after 18 months.
a) viral b) belly up c) forward
2.
He was caught in a cycle of self-doubt and ___.
a) relief b) confidence c) regret
3.
A mentor helped him change his ___.
a) clothes b) perspective c) team
4.
David believes mistakes should be treated as ___.
a) punishments b) secrets c) learning opportunities
5.
In his team, there is a ___ policy to encourage
innovation.
a) no-blame b) no-risk c) no-work
Answer Key
1. b) belly up
2.c) regret
3. b) perspective
4. c) learning opportunities
5. a) no-blame
EXERCISE
7: Sentence Reordering
Instruction: Put
the sentences in the correct order to recreate a summary of the conversation.
- [C] David’s first business failed, which deeply
affected his confidence.
- [E] A mentor’s advice helped him change his
mindset about failure.
- [A] He learned to analyze his mistakes
constructively.
- [D] In his current business, he promotes a
“no-blame” culture around mistakes.
- [B] The experience has made him more empathetic
and resilient.
Answer Key
Correct Order: C → E → A → D → B
