There are two great ways to learn: 1.) learn from your own failures 2.) learn from the failures of others. While I of course admit that nothing makes you know yourself better than a good failure, there is also a great amount to be learned from truly observing other people when they fail. How it happened, how they reacted, what they did about it. You can learn how NOT to do something. It's why sometimes assholes, pushovers, and shitty people are great role models - role models for who NOT to be, and for how NOT to act. If you can't generate failure on your own (don't worry, that shoe will drop eventually, as it does for everyone), then look to the failures of others. It will never show you how you WILL be when you fail, but it can give you insight on how to best handle that situation.