Failure & regret

What has been your biggest disappointment?

366 answers answered between 1995 and 2026 one of 25 in The Q&A

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The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

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Public figures who have answered a question like this elsewhere. Quoted from the source shown, not written for FLAPSS.

Read by field Everyone Science and medicine 2 Arts and letters 309 Politics and public life 25 Business and finance 10 Sport 19
Read by age Any age Before thirty 16 In their thirties 58 In their forties 82 In their fifties 81 In their sixties 73 Seventy and beyond 54
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Abigail Breslin American actress
When I haven't given my all, like when I'm working and I feel I could have done better.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 January 2014 source ↗
Rita Ora British singer-songwriter
I got dropped from two record deals when I was 14 and 17.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 August 2015 source ↗
James Bay English singer-songwriter and guitarist
My left foot. (I’m great with my right – I can bend it like Beckham.)
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 January 2016 source ↗
Maya Jama British television and radio presenter
Probably missing out on roles I really, really wanted, but I’m a big believer that if it’s for you, you’ll have it. So those clearly weren’t for me.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 June 2023 source ↗

1 answer from members

Not being able to start my own company

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