The great Michael Jordan once said, “I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed.”

World-renowned competitors amaze us with their raw talent, unparalleled athleticism and dedication to their chosen sport. Championships, game-winning goals, and extensive real estate in record books are often what solidify a champ’s legacy, but in reality it was that shot they didn’t make or that move they couldn’t master that ultimately made them great.

Whether it’s on the athletic field or in life, many hang their hat after they come up short, allowing failure to finalize their pursuit of a dream or goal. The fact of the matter is that winners use losing as a motivating tool as well as an opportunity to identify weaknesses. It is those missed money-shots or hard-hitting tackles that push a champion to wake up for 5 a.m. runs or repeat drills that focus on fundamentals hour after hour. Failure does not sideline winners rather it inspires them.

So while no athlete will title their future autobiography “Super Bad” or “Oops, I Missed It Again,” remember that no person can truly celebrate success if they have never fought against failure. After all even His Airness admitted, “I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.”

-Lauren Brill