As Heidi said, it's ok to fail. My chance to fail is every time I wake up in the morning and surounds me constantly. For the most part it doesn't really affect me as much as it would others I think. I view failure in the same sence I do putting gas in my car. It's something that has to be done in order to get anywhere and sometimes as a cost you might not like so well.
What would be my top "failure" in the sence you say already occured. I've wanted to work in a certain "graphic" industry and the opportunity came to work for THE biggest in the world. You've all seen my jacket. I wasn't a high level person, I wasn't a huge influance in the company and I ended up failing because the industry sort of imploded, the company filed for Chapter 11 and I got laid off. It was a giant leap and I fell off the stool.
Since then, I failed with self-publishing, but I did it - no regrets. Then this new opportunity that I've been working at for the past couple of years was something I had to give up earlier last year, but the chance to reach for that similar goal came about and I went for it. Now, as of a few days ago, the company is closing up shop and the deal with the 2nd largest company (Think Dark Knight) has been canceled - it's over and I failed to make something of it to my satifaction. But, another opportunity has reared it's ugly head and I'm going to make another leap and probably I will fail again. Then maybe another path will appear and I will lunge at that.
But, "fantasy" wise, yeah, I would see me moving to New York and working my way into one of the top positions at the Big "M" and should I fail, there are a couple others in that city.
But NY is too far from Anahiem.
P.S. And no, I'm not related to Matthew Bourne...