Why Failure Builds Experience in the US and Costs Credibility in Singapore

In the US, failure is often seen as part of the journey. You try something, it doesn’t work, you learn, and you move on. In many industries, failure builds experience and even shows courage.

In Singapore, failure has a different meaning, and this often surprises outsiders.

Singapore can feel very familiar at first. English is widely used. The legal and business systems come from its colonial past. The city is modern, fast, and global. Because of this, many outsiders assume the culture works the same way as in Western countries.

But under the surface, Singapore’s culture is deeply rooted in Asian values.

Here, failure is less about personal growth and more about credibility. A mistake can raise doubts about preparation, judgment, and reliability. It does not affect only the individual, but also the team and the organization.

This does not mean people in Singapore do not learn from mistakes. They do, but learning happens quietly. Failure is something to manage, not something to share openly. Public mistakes can damage trust, which takes a long time to build.

In the US, people often talk openly about what went wrong. Sharing failure stories is seen as honest and strong. Failure is personal and temporary.

In Singapore, talking openly about failure can feel risky. What feels like transparency elsewhere can feel like instability here. People prefer to test ideas carefully, reduce risk, and avoid unnecessary exposure.

This approach creates fewer visible failures, but also fewer public comebacks.

Failure itself is not good or bad. It is cultural.