[xrayzerone]

Then it will read like the mythical ad. God. The pedantry around here is astounding.

[eesmith]

I have grown weary of statements based on truthiness.

Shackleton's failed expedition goes around in business circles because it was a successful failure. No one died, despite the ship being caught in the ice, the men holed up on Elephant Island, and the incredible voyage of the James Caird to South Georgia and trek across the mountains to the whaling station.

The mythical ad builds on pop culture resonances, like the 2003 book "Shackleton's Way: Leadership Lessons from the Great Antarctic Explorer", and "Leading at The Edge: Leadership Lessons from the Extraordinary Saga of Shackleton's Antarctic Expedition", plus scores of other books and movies.

Tell me, downvoters, why don't we see 'mythical ads' for real failures, like the Scott's Terra Nova Expedition? Presumably they would have been just as heroic, no?

Or, would you interpret that fake ad the same if you replaced Shackleton's name with Scott's?

[dempseye]

In a similar vein, Mallory's justification for attempting Mount Everest is often repeated. He died in the attempt.

We hear about heroic failures too.

[scarejunba]

I think it’s intended to be a joking introduction into a side topic rather than a “well, actually”