[lorddoig]

Outright rejection of the fact that life, including your career path, is in part chance-based is dangerous. A sizeable chunk of the part that isn't isn't in your control either, it's controlled by your environment and the people who populate it. If an asteroid struck, and we were all made redundant, you would not have 'lost' - a large example to illustrate a subtle point.

Believing otherwise is the kind of self delusion that leads to mid-life crises: when the religion of You crumbles and a desperate scramble for a new faith begins.

Life is, in part, a lottery. Failure is fine. Failure is to be expected. Don't read in to it in the context of your self worth, but look at it objectively and see if anything is to be learned. Take risks and accept reality, and never reject the truth, especially when it's staring you right in the face.