We often learn more valuable lessons from our failures than from our successes.

An interview on LBC radio in London with the Green Party leader Natalie Bennett raised many eyebrows for all the wrong reasons. Nick Ferrari, the radio interviewer, questioned Ms Bennett on the issue of housing, and the Green Party’s proposal to build 500,000 new social rent homes funded by mortgage relief from private landlords.

Ferrari, a veteran broadcaster, expertly conducted the interview, pressing her on their manifesto and their pledge to build so many homes via this controversial strategy. Bennett was clearly unprepared for the interrogating nature of the interview, as she grew more and more uncomfortable, and it became apparent that she was unsure of the actual figures involved. Exasperated, and reluctantly, Ms Bennett blurted out a sum of £2.7 billion. “500,000 homes, £2.7 billion? What are they made of plywood?”, Ferrari responded sarcastically. It didn’t end there, sensing blood he continued to pursue Bennett who coughed and spluttered through the interview, with numerous long pauses and uncomfortable silences. As high-profile interviews go, there were conce
s this could be highly damaging to her party’s campaign and may come back to haunt her. The interview was described as a ‘car crash’, and the ‘worst political interview ever by a party leader’. Ms Bennett openly admitted afterwards that she was ill-prepared, adding that she was only ‘human’ and makes ‘mistakes’.

Such mishaps are not the exclusive domain of Ms Bennett in politics of course. Sarah Palin, the former Governor of Alaska, and who sensationally became John McCain’s running mate in the lead up to the 2008 US presidential election, said this about US soldiers at a fundraiser in San Francisco that same year, “They are building schools for the Afghan children so that there is hope and opportunity in our neighbouring country of Afghanistan”.

How many of us have or will have similar experiences in our lives, albeit perhaps not under the glare of media scrutiny? Hoping for some act of divine intervention to deliver us from our ordeal. Wishing we had just been that bit more vigilant in our preparation. Anything to avoid arriving at our current situation from which there is seemingly no escape, lest we lose all credibility.

It is often said that we learn more from our failures than from our successes. This is a worthwhile phrase to bare in mind as we navigate our paths through life. On the surface these challenging experiences can threaten to break the spirit, but there is always a silver lining. While we may trip and stumble, at the same time we become drawn to doing that inner work necessary to achieve our goals, as both these women have so ably demonstrated by reaching the top of their professions. Then and only then, will we hopefully emerge stronger and better prepared to go on and face our challenges, and ultimately achieve success.