I’d previously highlighted Carnegie’s 23 traits of an attractive personality.

Here are Andrew Carnegie’s 45 causes of failure.

1. Habit of drifting through life without a definite major purpose

2. Unfavorable physical heredity at birth

3. Habit of meddlesome curiosity into other people’s affairs

4. Inadequate preparation for the work in which one engages

5. Lack of self-discipline

6. Indifference towards opportunities for self-advancement

7. Lack of ambition to aim above mediocrity

8. Ill health (due to wrong thinking, improper diet and exercise)

9. Unfavorable environmental influences (esp during childhood)

10. Lack of persistence in carrying through a finish what one starts

11. Habit of maintaining a negative mental attitude

12. Lack of control of emotions

13. The desire for something for nothing 

14. indecision and indefiniteness

15. Fear of poverty, criticism, ill health, loss of love, old age, loss of liberty, death

16. Wrong selection for mate in marriage

17. Over caution in business and occupational relationships

18. Excess tendency towards chance

19. Wrong choice of associates in business or occupational work

20. Wrong choice of a vocation or total neglect to make a choice

21. Lack of concentration of effort leading to dissipation of time and energy

22. Habit of indiscriminate spending

23. Failure to budget and use time properly 

24. Lack of control of enthusiasm

25. Intolerance, close-mindedness and prejudice

26. Failure to cooperate with others in a spirit of harmony

27. Craving for power or wealth not earned or based on merit

28. Lack of a spirit of loyalty where loyalty is due

29. Egotism and vanity not under control

30. Exaggerated selfishness

31. The habit of creating plans without basing them on known facts

32. Lack of vision and imagination

33. Failure to make mastermind alliance

34. Failure to recognize the existence of and adapting to the power of infinite intelligence

35. Profanity of speech (unclean and undisciplined mind)

36. Speaking before thinking. Talking too much.

37. Covetousness, revenge, and greed

38. A habit of procrastination 

39. Speaking slanderously of other people

40. Ignorance of the power of thought & lack of knowledge on the operation of the mind

41. Lack of personal initiative

42. Lack of self-reliance

43. Lack of the qualities of a pleasing personality

44. Lack of faith in oneself, fellow men and God

45. Failure to develop the power of will through voluntary controlled habits of thought

To avoid failure, the idea of inversion popularized by Charlie Munger may also be useful.