---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People ask me, \"How do I succeed?\"…"
description: "\"People ask me, \"How do I succeed?\" Whatever it is they do, I say, \"Go and find 20 ways of messing it up. By 21, you'll be getting there.\" Life is an ad..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/bear-grylls-2482_adventure_people-ask-me-how-do-i-succeed-whatever_1742070.jpg"
---

#  People ask me, "How do I succeed?" Whatever it is they do…

![“People ask me, &quot;How do I succeed?&quot; Whatever it is they do, I say, &quot;Go and find 20 ways of messing it up. By 21, you'll be getting there.&quot; Life is an adventure, go back with cuts, scars and bruises.” quote by Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/bear-grylls-2482_adventure_people-ask-me-how-do-i-succeed-whatever_1742070.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/bear-grylls-2482_adventure_people-ask-me-how-do-i-succeed-whatever_1742070.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/bear-grylls-2482_adventure_people-ask-me-how-do-i-succeed-whatever_1742070.jpg)

> “People ask me, "How do I succeed?" Whatever it is they do, I say, "Go and find 20 ways of messing it up. By 21, you'll be getting there." Life is an adventure, go back with cuts, scars and bruises.”

[Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Success comes from learning many ways to fail, persisting through setbacks, and embracing the journey's scars.

**In simple terms:** Fail many ways, keep trying, learn from scars.

Key Takeaway

Embrace failure as a learning path.

Themes

perseverance learning adventure

Mood

inspirational determined

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- entrepreneurship
- personal development
- sports

Key Concepts

risk-taking resilience growth mindset

Questions to Reflect On

- What failures have taught you the most?
- How do you stay motivated after setbacks?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[20 Ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/20-ways-1527489/) [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Ask me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-me/) [Ask Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-succeed-1527488/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Bruises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bruises/) [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Getting Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-life-291333/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Life is an adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is-an-adventure/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Scar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scar/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Succeed Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed-say-1527487/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/)

## Related quotes

> [God doesn't ask that we succeed in everything, but that we are faithful. However beautiful our work may be, let us not become attached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/god-doesn-t-ask-that-we-succeed-in-everything-but-that-we-are/)

[Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/)

> [“I know 20 ways to count from 1-19.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-know-20-ways-to-count-from-1-19/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [There's not 20 ways. It's not your way. It's either God's way or the highway. That's it. If you want to get to heaven,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skip-heitzig/there-s-not-20-ways-it-s-not-your-way-it-s-either-god-s-way-or-the/)

[Skip Heitzig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skip-heitzig/)

> [“If they say you will fall, rise. If they say you will fail, succeed. If they say you will break, kept it together. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-they-say-you-will-fall-rise-if-they-say-you-will-fail-succeed-if/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [People come to me and ask,SUmaN why do you try so hard. and I say,People try everyday, but only the people who mean it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/people-come-to-me-and-ask-suman-why-do-you-try-so-hard-and-i-say/)

[Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/)

> [Everyone gets knocked back, no one rises smoothly to the top without hindrance. The ones who succeed are those who say, right, let’s give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/everyone-gets-knocked-back-no-one-rises-smoothly-to-the-top-without/)

[James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/)

> [Life is an adventure that is best lived boldly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/life-is-an-adventure-that-is-best-lived-boldly/)

[Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/)

> [“Yeah, right. I'm finally getting my life together. Too bad I had to die first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-rowland/yeah-right-i-m-finally-getting-my-life-together-too-bad-i-had-to-die/)

[Diana Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-rowland/)

> [It's so much better getting your life together and being a better person everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/it-s-so-much-better-getting-your-life-together-and-being-a-better/)

[Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

> [Anyone who says he is not emotional is not getting what he should out of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezer-weizman/anyone-who-says-he-is-not-emotional-is-not-getting-what-he-should-out/)

[Ezer Weizman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezer-weizman/)

> [You don't need to be getting everything in life right. I think the most important thing is growing up, enjoying yourself and understanding yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/you-don-t-need-to-be-getting-everything-in-life-right-i-think-the/)

[Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/)

> [Bad reviews come with everything. I've been getting them my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-friedle/bad-reviews-come-with-everything-i-ve-been-getting-them-my-whole-life/)

[Will Friedle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-friedle/)

> [Getting the most out of life is giving life your most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-markowitz/getting-the-most-out-of-life-is-giving-life-your-most/)

[Janice Markowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-markowitz/)

> [Love isn't a game, it is getting a life to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-isn-t-a-game-it-is-getting-a-life-to-live/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Whatever we're engage in in life, be bold! That's one way of getting through life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-mamerto/whatever-we-re-engage-in-in-life-be-bold-that-s-one-way-of-getting/)

[Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/)

## More by Bear Grylls

> [My Christian faith is my backbone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/my-christian-faith-is-my-backbone/)

[Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/)

> [Change the way you use your time, and you change your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/change-the-way-you-use-your-time-and-you-change-your-life/)

[Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/)

> [The rules of survival never change, whether you're in a desert or in an arena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/the-rules-of-survival-never-change-whether-you-re-in-a-desert-or-in/)

[Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/)

> [A wise man knows; learn from others, never get complacent and know where the classic old dangers come from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/a-wise-man-knows-learn-from-others-never-get-complacent-and-know/)

[Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/)

> [Life doesn't reward the naturally clever or strong but those who can learn to fight and work hard and never quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/life-doesn-t-reward-the-naturally-clever-or-strong-but-those-who-can/)

[Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/)

> [The appeal of the wild for me is its unpredictability. You have to develop an awareness, react fast, be resourceful and come up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/the-appeal-of-the-wild-for-me-is-its-unpredictability-you-have-to/)

[Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/)

> [Survival can be summed up in three words - never give up. That's the heart of it really. Just keep trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/survival-can-be-summed-up-in-three-words-never-give-up-that-s-the/)

[Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/)

> [I learnt another valuable lesson that night: listen to the quiet voice inside. Intuition is the noise of the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/i-learnt-another-valuable-lesson-that-night-listen-to-the-quiet-voice/)

[Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/)

> [I always wanted to be Robin Hood or John the Baptist when I was growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/i-always-wanted-to-be-robin-hood-or-john-the-baptist-when-i-was/)

[Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/)

> [Our dreams are just wishes, if we never follow them through with action. And in life, you have got to be able to light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/our-dreams-are-just-wishes-if-we-never-follow-them-through-with/)

[Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/)

> [For me, my training is a key part of my work as so often my life has depended on being able to move fast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/for-me-my-training-is-a-key-part-of-my-work-as-so-often-my-life-has/)

[Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/)

> [I look back and understand the world a bit better and know how competitive it is .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/i-look-back-and-understand-the-world-a-bit-better-and-know-how/)

[Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/)

> [I love Ray Mears. He's brilliant. He's so rude about me in the press, it's outrageous!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/i-love-ray-mears-he-s-brilliant-he-s-so-rude-about-me-in-the-press-it/)

[Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/)

> [Once a job it has begun, do not stop until it's done. Whether it is big or small, do it well or not all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/once-a-job-it-has-begun-do-not-stop-until-it-s-done-whether-it-is-big/)

[Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/)

> [Sometimes it’s hard for us to believe, really believe, that God cares and wants good things for us and doesn’t just want us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/sometimes-it-s-hard-for-us-to-believe-really-believe-that-god-cares/)

[Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/)

[Explore all 161 Bear Grylls quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/)

## More Adventure quotes

> [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/)

[Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/)

> [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/)

[Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/)

> [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/)

[Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/)

> [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/)

[Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/)

> [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/)

[Jessica Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yu/)

> [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/)

[Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/)

> [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/)

[Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/)

> [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/)

[Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/)

> [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [“Love can give you such happiness, then can break the very heart it filled, leaving a hole that can never be fixed or protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcleod/love-can-give-you-such-happiness-then-can-break-the-very-heart-it/)

[Kevin McLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mcleod/)

> [“It always gave Wolf a peculiar thrill thus to tighten his grip upon his stick, thus to wrap himself more closely in his faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/it-always-gave-wolf-a-peculiar-thrill-thus-to-tighten-his-grip-upon/)

[John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/)

> [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. What did people mean, with their simply determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/it-all-had-to-be-squeezed-and-squeezed-again-to-provide-a-thrill-to/)

[D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/)

> [I am not an adventurous person but I am gutsy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-am-not-an-adventurous-person-but-i-am-gutsy/)

[Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/)

> [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/)

[James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/)

[Browse all 7,690 Adventure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "People ask me, \"How do I succeed?\" Whatever it is they do, I say, \"Go and find 20 ways of messing it up. By 21, you'll be getting there.\" Life is an adventure, go back with cuts, scars and bruises.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Bear Grylls"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/people-ask-me-how-do-i-succeed-whatever-it-is-they-do-i-say-go-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Adventure"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/people-ask-me-how-do-i-succeed-whatever-it-is-they-do-i-say-go-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/bear-grylls-2482_adventure_people-ask-me-how-do-i-succeed-whatever_1742070.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/bear-grylls-2482_adventure_people-ask-me-how-do-i-succeed-whatever_1742070.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/bear-grylls-2482_adventure_people-ask-me-how-do-i-succeed-whatever_1742070.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“People ask me, \"How do I succeed?\" Whatever it is they do, I say, \"Go and find 20 ways of messing it up. By…” — Bear Grylls",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Bear Grylls",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "People ask me, \"How do I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/people-ask-me-how-do-i-succeed-whatever-it-is-they-do-i-say-go-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/people-ask-me-how-do-i-succeed-whatever-it-is-they-do-i-say-go-and/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
