If I fail, will I blame technology or fate?

This question, I feel, is more like asking: If I fail, should I look for external reasons (technology/fate), or should I look for reasons within myself?

Let's look at it from another perspective.

First, let's talk about technology. Technology itself is a tool, like a hammer in your hand. If your house isn't built well, can you entirely blame the hammer for being bad? Possibly. Maybe you chose an outdated hammer (wrong tech stack), maybe you never really mastered how to use a hammer (lack of technical skill), or maybe when you swung the hammer, you ran out of nails (supply chain or ecosystem issues). So, technology is rarely the "culprit," but the decision of "how to choose and use technology" is definitely one of the key factors for success or failure. When you're reviewing, you can't just say, "Oh, this technology is no good." Instead, you should ask, "Why did I choose it at the time? Can my team handle it? Were there better options?"

Now, about fate. Many of us in IT don't really believe in fate; we believe more in logic and code. But if you talk about "luck," that absolutely exists. You work hard for two years, and suddenly a giant enters the market with an identical, free product – is that bad "fate"? Or, the market trend suddenly shifts, and investors collectively pull out – does that count? Yes, it does. This is called "systemic risk" or "force majeure," something you, no matter how brilliant, cannot reverse.

However, most of the time, what we call "fate" is actually the inevitable outcome of a series of choices you made previously. You might feel that fate caused your failure, but if you trace back, wasn't it because:

1. You misjudged the market? Did users truly need what you built, or did you just think they did?
2. The product was terrible? The idea was great, but the execution was buggy and difficult to use.
3. The team was ineffective? People weren't pulling their weight, communication was a mess, and internal friction was severe.
4. You ran out of money? Was the burn rate and financial plan properly calculated from the start?

So, if you truly fail, don't rush to blame technology or fate. Blaming them is the easiest path because you don't have to change yourself, but then you'll fall into the same trap next time.

The best approach is to hold a "retrospective meeting" for yourself.

• Technologically, what were the mistaken decisions?
• Market-wise, what were the misjudgments?
• Team-wise, what were the management issues?
• Personally, what were your cognitive limitations?

As for "fate," you can treat it as an unquantifiable "X factor." Acknowledge its existence, but don't use it as the sole excuse. Think of it as the quality of the cards you're dealt in a game. A bad hand doesn't necessarily mean you'll lose; a good hand can still lead to a loss if you play it wrong.

Ultimately, what helps you grow isn't blaming someone, but understanding "why." Once you understand that, this failure isn't a period, but the tuition fee for your next success.