Failure is the only way to success

A speech by my 19-year-old self to my classmates.

Today, I’d like to share the story of how I started with public speaking and why I am standing here before you. Let’s go back five years – to the time when it all began.

Back then, I would have described myself as a shy introvert who struggled to say anything in public. But I found myself in a group of people who worked with youth, and that’s how I became an animator – a youth leader. Since being an animator means staying in touch with people and sometimes giving talks on different topics, one day I was asked to give a presentation the following week.

My first reaction was: “There’s no way I can do this.” It was far beyond my comfort zone – and, honestly, beyond my abilities. But because I wanted to act responsibly, I decided to give it a try. I carefully wrote down what I was going to say and did my best to prepare.

When the big day came, I felt so sick from the morning that I couldn’t do anything all day. I was so nervous I couldn’t even attend my own presentation. I was deeply disappointed in myself. Two weeks later, I got another opportunity, and although the day went pretty much the same, this time I pulled myself together and showed up. But I was so stressed that I read everything word for word from my paper, and instead of the planned 15 minutes, it took about seven. Again, I felt the same disappointment and told myself I’d never speak in front of people again.

As you can probably guess, that’s not where the story ends.

During one youth weekend event, I felt I should share my story, what I had been through and what keeps me moving forward despite the failures. That evening, I spoke in front of a hundred strangers about my personal experiences. It was a powerful moment – seeing the emotional reactions and positive feedback from people who were genuinely touched. That’s when I realized for the first time that maybe I do have something valuable to share.

After that came more and more talks. The pattern was always the same – stress, uncertainty, and dissatisfaction after every single one. But to my surprise, people often told me they got something out of it, that it inspired them. And so I thought: “If what I say helps even one person, it’s worth it.”

Over time, I discovered a strong inner desire to share my thoughts and experiences with others. Writing was always the easiest way for me – I loved it. But I gradually realized that if I wanted to spread ideas and make an impact, I had to learn to speak them out loud too. So, despite my resistance to public speaking, I decided to go for it, knowing it wouldn’t be a gentle walk in the park.

Years have passed since that decision – years full of mistakes, failures, and small victories. But today, I can stand here and speak smoothly – and that, for me, is already a win.

What I wanted to share with you today comes down to two things:

First: Don’t be afraid to dream. I once had a dream that one day I’d stand before people and share my ideas. It seemed absolutely crazy back then, completely out of reach. But with a bit of self-discipline, hard work, and determination, it gradually became reality.

Second: Never compare yourself to others. When I look at others in my debate club, I know I’m not as good as they are – yet. But I also know that my goal is different. My goal is to stand there, face my fear, and defend my ideas with confidence. For someone else, the goal might be to win the debate – and that’s okay. We all have different journeys, starting points, and challenges. Never judge people based on what you see, because you never know how much effort, courage, and pain it took for them to get where they are today.

Be content with where you are – but don’t settle. Dream big. Because, as I like to say, nothing is impossible. All it takes is determination and courage.

That’s how I felt in 2019.

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🌟A Message from My Present Self

Public speaking has always been, for me, a typically Slovak bumpy road full of failures. For years, after every single presentation, I had mental breakdowns. I cried and swore I’d never try again. I started this journey at 14, and only when I was 22 did I feel, for the first time, that maybe this could actually work.

Since then, only three years have passed – and today I travel across Slovakia and Europe, speaking at conferences, giving lectures, hosting workshops for students, teachers, and companies, and moderating a technology podcast. It’s not just a big part of my career, it’s what fulfills me the most: the chance to share knowledge, spark discussions, listen, and communicate ideas that matter.

Don’t get me wrong, I still fail. Sometimes in the worst possible moments. I never had a talent for public speaking. It didn’t come naturally to me. I used to be terrified every time I had to say something out loud as a shy introvert.

But despite that, I kept going. I failed again and again. And even when the light at the end of the tunnel seemed impossibly far, I refused to give up.

If I could make it, anyone can. Just don’t give up.

And remember – the only path to success is through failure. No one likes it. It hurts, it’s frustrating, but it’s what shapes us. Keep going. Because sometimes, miracles really do happen.