Jay Dixit

Paula Scher on Failure

Paula Scher is one of the world's most famous graphic designers, known for creating Citibank's umbrella logo as well as for design work for The Public Theater, The New York Times Magazine, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York City Ballet, and Herman Miller. She believes failure is the secret to artistic success. "You have to fail in order to make the next discovery," says Scher. "It's through mistakes that you actually can grow."

Paula Scher is one of the world's most famous graphic designers, known for creating Citibank's umbrella logo as well as for design work for The Public Theater, The New York Times Magazine, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York City Ballet, and Herman Miller. She believes failure is the secret to artistic success. "You have to fail in order to make the next discovery," says Scher. "It's through mistakes that you actually can grow."

Mary Higgins Clark on Failure

Mary Higgins Clark knows something about getting through tough times. She lost her father when she 11, her brother when she was 16, and her husband when she was 36—after which she was left to raise five children on her own. That didn't stop her from becoming one of the most successful suspense novelists of all time, writing 28 books that have sold 100 million copies in the U.S. alone. At age 81 she's still going strong. Her new book, Just Take My Heart, is on sale now. I reached her at her home in Saddle River, New Jersey.

Mary Higgins Clark knows something about getting through tough times. She lost her father when she 11, her brother when she was 16, and her husband when she was 36—after which she was left to raise five children on her own. That didn't stop her from becoming one of the most successful suspense novelists of all time, writing 28 books that have sold 100 million copies in the U.S. alone. At age 81 she's still going strong. Her new book, Just Take My Heart, is on sale now. I reached her at her home in Saddle River, New Jersey.

Donald Trump on Failure

Donald Trump's comeback is one of the most dramatic of all time—as well as one of the most visible. According to a well-known anecdote, one day when he was $1 billion in debt, he pointed out a homeless man to his daughter and said, "See that bum? He has a billion dollars more than me." The Guinness Book of Records lists him as having the biggest financial turnaround in history. "In the early 1990s, I owed billions of dollars and many people thought I was finished," says Trump. "I refused to give in to the negative circumstances and I never lost faith in myself. I didn't believe I was finished even when the newspapers were saying so. I refused to give up. Defeat is not in my vocabulary."

Donald Trump's comeback is one of the most dramatic of all time—as well as one of the most visible. According to a well-known anecdote, one day when he was $1 billion in debt, he pointed out a homeless man to his daughter and said, "See that bum? He has a billion dollars more than me." The Guinness Book of Records lists him as having the biggest financial turnaround in history. "In the early 1990s, I owed billions of dollars and many people thought I was finished," says Trump. "I refused to give in to the negative circumstances and I never lost faith in myself. I didn't believe I was finished even when the newspapers were saying so. I refused to give up. Defeat is not in my vocabulary."