Yea, contrary terms, I know. I enjoy being successful, being on the winning side of a problem (even if it is only the garbage-disposal plumbing), being strong, admired, even 'looked up to'. These traits, these events, these moments in my life leave me self-satisfied, proud of my stature in life, and they even kind of invigorate me to press on, to strive more or harder, to improve... but, all too quickly, my fallibility lurches RIGHT into the middle of some fantastic quest I am (was) on the verge of experiencing... and my world crashes down around me... embarrassingly... ashamedly... dishearteningly... an utter puddle.
Oddly, the failures in our lives, the weaknesses, the quirky 'flaws' of our character is most perfectly where God can use us the best. No... do not stop 'trying' to improve, but don't lose hope either! Proverbs 3:5 states; "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Now, failings, shortcomings, weaknesses are typically frowned on, typically characterized as though you may not be a very well developed being, typically leaving you feeling shunned, outcast, or ostracized. Again though; "...lean not on thy own understanding" is exactly how and when God can grow you, use you, fellowship with you.
I once created a 'tweet' that stated we should keep Satan close. Sounds odd, I know, but he is constantly pointing out your flaws, constantly working to trip you up, constantly bringing out 'the worst in you'... and that's when you thank him for 'exposing' your weakness, then turn to the Lord and ask for healing, for strength, for wisdom as to how to deal with this 'character trait' of yours! When we are weak, He is strong! If/when we can do something 'on our own' (say, get a loan to pay for a car), we don't turn to the Lord.
A very lengthy scripture that explains this is Isaiah 40:28-31, which declares; "Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. (29) He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. (30) Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: (31) But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
See?
They that 'wait' on the Lord (not hurry on and do it alone) are IN His fellowship, IN His will, and certainly IN His very care! Now THAT is Successfully Failing!