How to Write a Tri-Fail Cycle

How many tri-fail cycles you can have on any given problem is directly related to how important that problem is to the main character. A lot of thrillers, they're pacing is all yes butts. Yes, we achieved this, but we made it worse. And rather than the Indiana Jones, no, I failed and I got kicked in the head. Prove to the reader that our characters are trying really capable, competent, interesting, intelligent things and it's still not working. That's your goal. This has been Writing Excuses. Now go right.