Failure is not defeat For athletes, losing provides an opportunity to become stronger, faster and better at what they do. It becomes a teachable moment and a motivator for later success. Losers aren’t coddled or pampered, and so they have to rely on an inner resolve to improve their standing. “One of the advantages that men had over women is that they learned at an early age…that it was okay to lose and keep going,†BET chair and CEO Debra Lee, who was recently appointed to President Obama’s Management Advisory Board, said in Come to Win. “That’s true in business too. You’ve got to keep coming back and redefining where you’re going and what your goals are.â€