RichM
I think you have not failed but have spent three years in the hard knocks university. It would only be a failure if you failed to learn from your experience. Things that I suspect your have learned are: how to deal with staff (a degree in human resources), how to deal with customers (a degree in public relations), and how to run a business (a degree in business management). My guess is if you were to go to a community college to take any of those degrees you would have not learned much more than what you now know. I also think that you would have spent a great deal of money to learn it.
I wish you success in what ever you chose to do. I believe that what you have taken from the last three years will be an asset to whomever you go to work for.
Good Luck!