Failure - Shah Rukh Khan Speech (english)

Summary

The speaker reflects on their fear of failure and how it has driven their actions and choices. Coming from a lower-middle-class background and experiencing early losses, they equated poverty with failure. Acting was not a pursuit of passion but a means to avoid unemployment and poverty. They emphasize that success is not the absence of failure but the response to it. Through repeated failures, they discovered their true strengths, willpower, and the value of genuine relationships. Ultimately, they advocate for facing fears and embracing failure as a stepping stone to future success.

Takeaways

• 😟 Fear of failure can be a strong motivator.
• 🏡 Coming from a lower middle-class family influenced the speaker's perspective on success and failure.
• 👨‍👩‍👦 The speaker equated poverty with failure due to early life experiences.
• 🎬 Acting in films was driven more by the fear of poverty than by a creative desire.
• 🎥 Many of the films the speaker acted in were rejected by more prominent actors.
• 🛠 Success is not defined by the absence of failure but by one's response to it.
• 🔄 Pragmatism and adaptability are crucial responses to failure.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Failure helps identify true friends and test the strength of relationships.
• 💪 Overcoming failures builds a strong will, discipline, and confidence.
• 📜 Life is not just about achievements; it's about learning from failures and facing fears.

Q & A

What is the speaker's primary fear that has influenced their life choices?

The speaker's primary fear is failure, which stems from their aversion to poverty and their upbringing in a lower middle-class family.

How did the speaker's father influence their perception of success and failure?

The speaker's father was described as a 'beautiful man and the most successful failure in the world,' which likely shaped the speaker's early understanding of failure as an inevitable part of life.

Why did the speaker initially choose to act in films?

The speaker chose to act in films not out of a creative desire, but out of a fear of failure and poverty, as a means to secure employment and avoid being poor.

What types of films did the speaker typically sign up for?

The speaker often signed up for films that were 'discards of better-known actors' and projects that producers could not find anyone else to do.

How does the speaker define success in relation to failure?

The speaker defines success as not the absence of failure, but rather the response to failure, which helps to buffer the reverses experienced in life.

What is the speaker's personal response to failure?

The speaker's personal response to failure is pragmatism, a recognition and belief that if one approach does not work, then another will or might.

How has repeated failure impacted the speaker's self-perception?

Repeated failure has taught the speaker to stop pretending to be someone else and has given them clarity to focus on things that really matter to them.

What role does failure play in the speaker's understanding of relationships?

Failure helps the speaker to find out who their real friends are, as the true strength of relationships is tested in the face of strong adversity.

How has overcoming failures contributed to the speaker's personal growth?

Overcoming failures has made the speaker discover their strong will and discipline, which has helped them to have confidence in their ability to survive.

What is the speaker's perspective on life's purpose beyond material acquisitions and fulfillments?

The speaker believes that life is not just a checklist of acquisitions, attainments, and fulfillments, and that failure is a part of the journey to success.

What advice does the speaker give regarding facing fear and failure?

The speaker advises not to be afraid of being afraid, but to face fears and failures head-on, as they are essential for learning and eventual success.