1. Food for Thought
Failure

2. What is failure?
The OED defines failure as the lack of success.

4. In a thesaurus, the antonym (word with opposite meaning) of failure is success.

6. Some synonyms for failure
Defeat Disaster Washout Dead loss
Loser Disappointment Write-off Catastrophe

8. Maybe failing is about more than a lack of success.

9. fail
verb
1 acquire a knowledge of, acquire skill in, become competent in, become proficient in, grasp, master, take in, absorb, assimilate, digest, familiarize oneself with; study, read up on, be taught, have lessons in; informal get the hang of.

10. “The line between failure and success is so fine that often a single extra effort is all that is needed to bring victory out of defeat.”

11. In 2006 Nike launched an advertisement campaign starring basketball champion Michael Jordan.  
“I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. 26 times I have been entrusted to take the game-winning shot... and missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. That is why I succeed.”

12. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHGqp8lz36c (7 mins in…)