Failure often feels final in the moment, like a door closing permanently on the future you imagined. But sometimes, life redirects you in ways that only make sense much later. At an event that drew attention from students and professionals alike, one of India’s most respected doctors shared a deeply personal story about rejection, disappointment, and unexpected opportunity. His message was simple, but it carried the weight of decades in medicine, leadership, and life experience, reframing failure as part of something larger and often unseen.
While speaking at an event at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore in 2015, Devi Shetty, founder and chairman of Narayana Health and a renowned cardiac surgeon, shared a deeply personal account from his early career. He spoke about how life prepares individuals early on to accept that failure will often come more frequently than success, even when expectations are high, and preparation feels complete.
He recalled his time in England, where he had gone with strong hopes and a clear career path in mind. He initially believed he would work in the periphery and was almost certain of securing a registrar position at Southampton Hospital after a year, as arrangements had been informally supported through professional connections. At the end of that year, he went for the interview fully expecting success.
However, the outcome was different. Someone else was selected for the role, someone he considered more suited at that moment. The result came as a shock, especially given the certainty he had carried into the process. With limited communication options at the time, he had to make a difficult call from a railway station to his wife, informing her that their plans in England had come to an unexpected end and that they would need to return to India with their two children.
He described the emotional weight of that moment, where disappointment felt overwhelming and final. When he explained the situation to his wife, her response shifted the way he interpreted the experience. Instead of despair, she responded with calm acceptance, suggesting that what had not worked out might still be leading them toward something better. Her exact words, according to him, was, "God has something better for you."
Shortly after this setback, life took an unexpected turn. Within a week, he received an offer from Guy’s Hospital in London, a highly regarded cardiac centre in Europe. What made this opportunity remarkable was that he had neither applied for it nor actively pursued it. It arrived unexpectedly, opening a path he had not anticipated.
Reflecting on this sequence of events, he emphasised that life often redirects people when things do not go as planned. What feels like rejection in the moment may actually be preparation for something more aligned with one’s journey. He shared, "Remember when you don’t get something, God always has something better for you."
He has also served as Professor of International Health at the University of Minnesota Medical School in the United States and holds a position as Professor at Rajeev Gandhi University of Health Sciences in Bangalore. His journey reflects a combination of clinical excellence, global exposure, and a long-standing commitment to making healthcare more accessible.
Through his story shared at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, his message centred on a simple but powerful idea. When plans fall apart, it does not always mean loss. Sometimes, it signals a redirection toward opportunities that were not visible at the time, but ultimately more meaningful in the long run.
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He recalled his time in England, where he had gone with strong hopes and a clear career path in mind. He initially believed he would work in the periphery and was almost certain of securing a registrar position at Southampton Hospital after a year, as arrangements had been informally supported through professional connections. At the end of that year, he went for the interview fully expecting success.
However, the outcome was different. Someone else was selected for the role, someone he considered more suited at that moment. The result came as a shock, especially given the certainty he had carried into the process. With limited communication options at the time, he had to make a difficult call from a railway station to his wife, informing her that their plans in England had come to an unexpected end and that they would need to return to India with their two children.
He described the emotional weight of that moment, where disappointment felt overwhelming and final. When he explained the situation to his wife, her response shifted the way he interpreted the experience. Instead of despair, she responded with calm acceptance, suggesting that what had not worked out might still be leading them toward something better. Her exact words, according to him, was, "God has something better for you."
Shortly after this setback, life took an unexpected turn. Within a week, he received an offer from Guy’s Hospital in London, a highly regarded cardiac centre in Europe. What made this opportunity remarkable was that he had neither applied for it nor actively pursued it. It arrived unexpectedly, opening a path he had not anticipated.
Reflecting on this sequence of events, he emphasised that life often redirects people when things do not go as planned. What feels like rejection in the moment may actually be preparation for something more aligned with one’s journey. He shared, "Remember when you don’t get something, God always has something better for you."
About Devi Shetty
About Devi Shetty, he is the founder of Narayana Health, formerly Narayana Hrudayalaya, established in Bangalore in 2000. His academic background includes an MBBS and an MS in General Surgery from Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, England, and trained as a cardiothoracic surgeon under the National Health Service in the UK.He has also served as Professor of International Health at the University of Minnesota Medical School in the United States and holds a position as Professor at Rajeev Gandhi University of Health Sciences in Bangalore. His journey reflects a combination of clinical excellence, global exposure, and a long-standing commitment to making healthcare more accessible.
Through his story shared at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, his message centred on a simple but powerful idea. When plans fall apart, it does not always mean loss. Sometimes, it signals a redirection toward opportunities that were not visible at the time, but ultimately more meaningful in the long run.
