Oops! Life Lessons from Losing (Thanks, John Maxwell)

by Mona Straub

We all love winning. It feels good, it looks good, and let’s be real—it’s way more fun than failing. But in Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn, John C. Maxwell reminds us that winning isn’t what really grows us. Nope—it’s the awkward, embarrassing, “oh no, not again” moments that actually shape us.

Think about it: success rarely forces us to change. But mistakes? Those come with built-in life lessons. Forgot your anniversary? Congratulations, you just earned a crash course in humility. Bombed a big presentation? Welcome to the School of Resilience. Burned dinner while “freestyling” a recipe? You’ve graduated with honors in Following Directions (next time).

Maxwell’s big idea is simple: failure isn’t failure—it’s feedback. Every loss is like paying tuition in life’s classroom. Sometimes the tuition feels steep (like spilling coffee on your laptop), but the wisdom sticks around.

So, the next time you fall flat, don’t just groan. Laugh at it. Learn from it. And remember—you’re either winning or you’re learning. And hey, at least you’re collecting great stories to tell at your next party.