every wrong attempt...
“… Every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward”
“Seek not to create failure, nor to avoid failure. Seek instead to allow failure, when it comes, to keep you moving on the path to greater success.”
Wow, I almost missed todays thought, and that would have been a disappointment. Todays thought is one of the most valuable lessons we EVER stand to learn. The title of this post is a quote from Thomas Edison. He might not have been the most brilliant man in his day, (it actually is debatable), but he was without doubt the very most prolific inventor and problem solver of his day. I don’t know for sure, but I wouldn’t doubt that he still holds US Patent records.
Failure is so very important for our success. There is an old story about this; Several successful and high level gentlemen were gathered together at their exclusive men’s club, and they were interviewing applicants to the club. The question arose, “What failures have you experienced?” When the young applicant looked a bit puzzled, an older tenured Doctor said, “Like the time I prescribed the wrong pain medicine for my patient. It reacted violently with something the patient was already taking. I nearly killed the man”, he said in a sad voice. “Or the time I missed the Federal wire”, spoke the Banker, “I overdrew the bank 45 million dollars that day. We lost $175,000 interest that day. I was of course fired”. “Then there was the day I listened to my boss”, spoke up a business manager, “doing what she said I gave one of my employees a poorer performance review then she deserved. HR got involved and the employee ended up getting fired”. “I’m sorry”, said the young applicant, “I’m afraid I don’t understand the reason for the question”.
“Well”, said the Doctor, “my failure that day made me aware that my patients are more than what I see in front of me at the time. From that mistake I learned to pay closer attention to my patients, and I’m a better doctor today because of it”. “I learned”, said the Banker, “what it means to have good time management skills. I’ve never missed an appointment since that day I got fired”. “And I”, said the business man, “learned a very important lesson about integrity and personal honor”. “You see”, the Banker continued, “we are all very successful today in our careers. Independently wealthy, happy and fruitful, but everyone of us, everyone in this club has paid a price to get to where we are today. Now, we ask you again… What is your greatest failure?”
The young man looked down, shaking his head sadly, “I understand what you mean. The only thing I can think of right now is that I applied to this exclusive club too early. I’ve learned that even though I got rich in the Computer game… I basically lucked out, I’ve learned what arrogance is all about, and a bit about humility too”.
Three days later, he received a letter from the exclusive club. In it the interview panel wrote; “Perhaps we are premature in accepting this young man into our club, but he exhibited understanding, honesty, and the ability to learn from his mistakes”.
We all stand to learn something from our mistakes … our failures can be our greatest asset!
Bright blessings!
Comments (4)
. .is your thing." - Larry Anderson, Houston astronots.
Enter McBob.} The problem with failure is best examplified & multiplied by a recent government gibbering..." Imagine all those heavy trucks on the highway with ZERO EMISSIONS..{ insert cackling, bone cracking laughter..}
..and this is Y we are here..[ more laughter
BECAUSE YOU IMAGINED IT....
Failure has now become the plus Ultra of government double $peak.
We -- that is eYe- should know already about the other GREEN failure.) . ) ..corn alcohol production costs more BTU$ / energy. Than it delivers...meaning the
F minus legislator will find a way to $ubsudize it & advertise for more....0$HA....our system has atrophied..
I recognize whyvit happen and how it happened. Only then I can be prepared to avoid it when it does.
Positive Friction .) Donna the buffalo
.. just the way it is .) Hornsby & the R a n g e...) ..