"Failure," a Nike TV Commercial Quotes
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Source: "Failure," a Nike TV Commercial
Speaker: Michael Jordan
"I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.
Context
This line was written by Jamie Barrett and spoken by Michael Jordan in "Failure," a Nike TV commercial (1997).
Michael Jordan is arguably one of the greatest basketball players of all-time, as a six-time NBA champion and NBA Finals MVP who played with the Chicago Bulls for almost 15 years. Nike is arguably one of the greatest athletic wear companies of all time, as a pioneering force in sneakers and slogans, with its iconic swoosh and "Just do it" motto.
Combine the two and you have advertising gold. Michael Jordan hawked Nike gear numerous times throughout his career, but perhaps the most famous—and inspirational—ad is the one called "Failure," in which Michael Jordan says he's failed over and over and over again. "And that is why I succeed."
Very inspirational, Mike. Now we want some Nikes.
Where you've heard it
You've heard this if you've failed, whether for the first time or the nine thousandth time. Or after MJ tried his hand at baseball.
Pretentious Factor
If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.
Michael Jordan wasn't exactly an underdog, and the quote didn't technically originate with him. It was written for him, for the commercial, by Jamie Barrett. Plus, it's hard to have the gravitas to pull off this one.