Let Us View Failure Not Through the Lens of Success, but Through the Lens of Failure

Let Us View Failure Not Through the Lens of Success, but Through the Lens of Failure

 

Sukjae Lee, Ph.D.
Creator of the Effectiveness Coaching Methodology
February 15, 2026

 

The driving forces behind Korea’s remarkable development and prosperity can be attributed to several factors: parents’ intense commitment to education, the “hurry-hurry” culture that accelerated execution, and collective solidarity exemplified by movements such as the nationwide gold collection campaign during the IMF financial crisis.

The story of transforming from a country that once received international aid to one that now provides aid—often referred to as the “Miracle on the Han River”—is virtually unprecedented in world history. As a Korean, I take pride in this achievement.

However, alongside these positive aspects, significant negative realities have also surfaced. We have experienced major disasters such as the collapse of the Sampoong Department Store and the Seongsu Bridge, the Daegu subway fire, and the Sealand Youth Training Center fire. Even recently, various accidents and crises occur with alarming frequency.

When such incidents occur, media discussions often prioritize determining who is responsible rather than identifying root causes. I believe that responsibility and root-cause analysis must be examined together, rather than one preceding the other.

If we examine our reality, similar incidents repeatedly occur—both in society and in individuals’ lives. Korea’s suicide rate remains the highest among OECD countries. Experts point to relative deprivation, economic hardship, and negative self-evaluation regarding one’s worth as primary causes.

Organizations, too, experience recurring incidents—industrial accidents in manufacturing processes, facility operations, and construction sites. Although the Serious Accidents Punishment Act enforces accountability, efforts to fundamentally eliminate or improve root causes remain insufficient.

 

Why Do Similar Failures Repeat in Our Lives and Workplaces?

I believe the root cause lies in how we perceive the outcomes of failed efforts, lost competition, incidents, and disasters.

As we transitioned from an agricultural society to an industrial and information society, performance orientation became the dominant cognitive framework of modern life. Performance culture avoids and devalues failure. The imperative is clear: produce results that meet standards of success, no matter what.

As a result, priority is given to doing—execution. Attention to being—the subject who performs the execution—has consistently been secondary. In producing results, execution has taken precedence over existence.

We are bound by an execution-centered life.

 

The Psychology of ‘Execution-Centered’ Versus ‘Being-Centered’ Living

When we view life through the lens of execution, outcomes and evaluation occupy the center of consciousness. Common evaluative standards include concepts such as goal achievement, success, completion, perfect scores, excellence, and superiority.

There is a scale for success—often from 0 to 100.
There is no independent scale for failure.

Failure is simply defined as falling short of 100.

We evaluate incidents and accidents using the lens of perfect success. Through this lens, failure is harshly criticized and condemned. The process of assigning responsibility often precedes deeper causal analysis.

Success is desirable.
Failure is something to be avoided.
It is viewed as something that should not occur.

 

The Need for a Shift in Consciousness

If we wish to avoid repeatedly falling into the pattern of short-lived resolutions and recurring failure, we need a shift in awareness.

The starting point is simple yet profound:

View success through the lens of success, and view failure through the lens of failure.

When we view failure through the lens of failure, we cultivate the psychological stance necessary to analyze its causes meticulously. By identifying and addressing root causes, we increase the likelihood of not repeating the same failure.

Therefore, viewing failure through the lens of failure is a critical action required of us.

 

From Result-Oriented Living to Process Awareness

Let us reconsider an exclusively result-oriented, execution-centered life.

Let us pay attention to the process that produces results. Let us respect a being-centered life that recognizes and values the individuals responsible for that process. Let us cultivate an awareness that balances being-centered and execution-centered living.

In an execution-centered life, psychology revolves around outcomes, evaluations of those outcomes, and rewards attached to those evaluations. At the center of execution stands “I.” Self-centeredness is likely to operate.

In contrast, a being-centered life recognizes:

• The process that generates results
• The individuals responsible for that process
• The value of their efforts and contributions

At the center of the process stands “we.”

Work cannot be accomplished alone; collaboration and cooperation are essential. When we become aware of the interdependence operating within the process of producing desired results, we develop respect for others. We learn to acknowledge and embrace the diversity of personalities, expertise, experiences, and knowledge that others bring. We leverage that diversity to produce desired outcomes.

 

Rebalancing Our Orientation

We must move beyond a lifestyle that prioritizes “results above all” and increase the weight we give to process-centered living. Ideally, balance management is key.

Results remain important. But we must also learn to value—and even enjoy—the process.

To implement this perspective shift, we must first adopt the discipline of viewing success through the lens of success and failure through the lens of failure.

This is the critical action required in our time.

 

Reference

Lee, Sukjae (2014). Effectiveness Coaching by a Business Psychologist. Seoul: Kim & Kim Books.

Lee, Sukjae (2020). How to Use a Wandering Mind. Seoul: Plan B Design.

Lee, Sukjae (2020). Coaching Methodology. Seoul: Korea Coaching Supervision.

Lee, Sukjae (2024). Coaching Psychology Class for Boosting Execution. Seoul: Hakjisa.