A) Failure starts when you stop trying or quit trying ; and do not have a clear plan otherwise you still have not failed. Also you have not been defeated until you have admitted defeat.
America is all about winners and losers. People love to judge others and even “big time” preachers, motivational speakers to make themselves winners and you the losers say things like “people do not change” “you can rebound from failure”. Both are wrong. While if something is not working and will not work obviously you attack from another angle. But as long as you are fighting failure is just thought not a reality.