Failure Smooths the Edges Pride Can’t Reach

A note to young leaders.

Failure is the sandpaper of the soul – it hurts like hell, but smooths the sharp edges of pride.

Greg Chappell entered the 1980’s as Australia’s best batsman since Bradman. He played with an aristocratic air that made batting look effortless and elegant.

Yet during the West Indies’ tour of Australia in 1981–82, fans watched in astonishment as the star of Australia’s batting amassed seven ducks in international matches – including four consecutive ducks across two Tests and two ODI’s.

One fan at the MCG famously held up a sign: “If Greg Chappell could bat, he’d be a great all-rounder.”

The aura of invincibility that Chappell had carried for a decade was crumbling. But something else was happening. According to wicketkeeper-vice captain, Rod Marsh, the once aloof batting maestro was becoming a better captain:

“He started to show a lot more patience and understanding with players in the dressing room – because he’d been through the wringer himself. Up until then, he expected players to just get on with it. He wasn’t much of a leader.”

Form is fickle. Embrace failure, stay grounded, stay humble.

And be good to people on the way up, because you’ll meet them on the way down.