Owning Up and Learning from My Mistakes

Our education system does not encourage us to admit our errors and effectively punishes us when we get it wrong.

This is reinforced by the assessment strategy of grading us down in tests and formal examinations when we do not produce the “right’ answers.

The system is designed to turn out cookie cutter lookalikes with not a whit of individuality.

It stymies creativity, inventiveness and discourages exploration; in effect we get a slap on the wrist every time we colour outside the lines.

So does the title of this article stir up a bit of discomfort?

I certainly hope so, only because I want you to challenge conventional thinking and behaviour.

What if, for a change, we celebrated instead of shaming kids in grade school for giving the incorrect answer?

Rather than making them feel like a failure we gave them elephant stamps and gold stars for having a go, for attempting an answer.

Brian Tracy, one of my favourite motivational speakers and amazing business coach said it best:

Learning from your mistakes is an essential skill that enables you to develop the resilience to be a master of change rather than a victim of change.

The person who recognizes that he has made a mistake and changes direction the fastest is the one who will win in an age of increasing information, technology and competition.

By remaining fast on your feet, you will be able to out-play and out-position your competition.

You will become a creator of circumstances rather than a creature of circumstances.

In other words: Adaptability is the name of the game.

In every episode of Star Trek Dr Spock may have said, “Live long and prosper”, but Dr Tan says “Live smart and prosper”.

So, the faster you fail, the quicker you get to your goals.

You might as well get through it sooner than later because that lets you gain momentum as you hurtle towards success.

Yours in health, wealth and happiness