Everyone can learn from mistakes. Moreover, the better a man is, the more mistakes he will make because he will attempt more things. A New York management expert says that he would never promote into a top-level job a man who is not making mistakes-and big ones at that. "Otherwise, he is sure to be mediocre."
Positive mistakes-not disorganized bumbling-will teach you how to spot errors early and how to correct them, in yourself and in those under you.
Tenacity, patience and the ability to learn by failures and to turn them into successes are the traits you must develop in yourself. Never be afraid to start over as many times as necessary to get results.
Experts on Mistakes
When you make a mistake, don't look back at it long. Take the reason of the thing into your mind, and then look forward. Mistakes are lessons of wisdom. The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power. Hugh White
No man ever progressed to greatness . . . but through great mistakes. Frederick W. Robertson
The sages do not consider that making no mistakes is a blessing. They believe, rather, that the great virtue of man lies in his ability to correct his mistakes and continually to make a new man of himself, Wang Yang-Ming
Try to be your own severest boss. There is genuine fun in self-discipline. If you haven't yet learned to adopt the "I'll boss you, old fellow" attitude towards yourself, you haven't begun to know the full joy of work and effort and inspiration. No boss can boss you half so efficiently as you can boss yourself. You can begin where he leaves off-and still find much to find fault with, much to check up, much to eradicate. B. C. Forbes
Mistakes remembered are not faults forgot. B. H. Newell
Mere lack of success does not discredit a method, for there are many things that determine and perpetuate our sanctified ways of doing things besides their success in reaching their proposed ends. James Harvey Robinson
Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though sometimes it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and griefs which we endure help us in our marching onward. Henry Ford
"Safety first" has been the motto of the human race for half a million years; but it has never been the motto of leaders. A leader must face danger. He must take the risk and the blame, and the brunt of the storm. Herbert N. Casson
The most important thing in life is not to capitalize on your gains. Any fool can do that. The really important thing is to profit from your losses. That requires intelligence; and it makes the difference between a man of sense and a fool. William Bohtho
The priceless gift of self-confidence can only be acquired when you succeed after being exposed to possible failure. Exposure to risk is the only route to real self-confidence. Self-confidence cannot be inherited. It must be earned by each individual, each generation, each new regime. And the only way to earn it is by taking a noble risk, an honorable chance, a glorified gamble. Self-confidence cannot be taught; it must be caught! And risk-running, chance-taking, is the only way to catch it. Mountain-moving faith succeeds in building self-confidence through chance-taking. Without self-confidence, faith will never muster and demonstrate mountain-moving power. Robert H. Schuller
You will never stub your toe standing still. The faster you go, the more chance there is of stubbing your toe, but the more chance you have of getting somewhere. Charles F. Kettering
Successful businesses don't talk of minimizing risk-they talk of maximizing opportunity. The role of the business man is to take risks. The sure loss is the reckless investment. Peter F. Drucker
John D. Rockefeller was a master at analyzing his mistakes as well as his successes. Each night Rockefeller set aside ten minutes during which he reviewed and analyzed what he had done during the day. He was critical of all of his actions and judgments and studied them carefully to sort out the mistakes when they occurred, to analyze them, to learn from them. In his way Rockefeller was using the "scientific" approach to benefit from his mistakes.. . .
Here are the steps:
- Step one-Determine carefully just what it is you are trying to accomplish and why. . . .
- Step two-What are the pertinent facts involved? Can you get additional facts. . . ?
- Step three-. . . determine various possible courses of action and consider each possible course carefully. . . .
- Step four-Narrow down the possible courses of action to the one that comes closest to accomplishing your purpose.
- Step five-. . . the important step is to do something about it, beginning now. Douglas Lurton
Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to failure. Every great success has always been achieved by fight. Every winner has scars. . . . The men who succeed are the efficient few. They are the few who have the ambition and willpower to develop themselves. Herbert N. Casson
That the birds of Worry and care Fly above your Head, this you Cannot change, But that they build Nests in your hair, This you can prevent. Chinese Proverb
Ideas to Remember
- Develop the "can-do" frame of mind.
- Develop constructive discontent.
- Develop your imagination by doing.
- Don't wait for inspiration; get down to work and it will come.
- Be a student all your life.
- Listen to those more experienced and less experienced.
- Learn about the difficulties of other departments.
- Get rid of the one-track mind; broaden your knowledge in all fields.
- Plan your day to get the best use out of your most productive hours.
- Develop the ability to think and plan in outline form.
- Never be afraid to start over in order to get results.
- Take calculated gambles.
- Study your mistakes and learn from them.
