On making mistakes

by ANNIE on November 24, 2009

I’ve been thinking today about being the best person you know how to be. And, that? If it’s the best you can do then it’s the only thing you can do.

In life, in business, there’s no other way to do it, which means that everyone – everyone – is going to make mistakes. It’s the only way you grow and it’s the only way that the best successes are developed. The point of all of this is to say that yes, you are going to make mistakes.
Mistakes

What? You missed that? Let me say it again: YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE MISTAKES.

And that’s ok! Mistakes are a necessary, expected part of growing. You know how they say in sales that the top salespeople have heard the word ‘No’ way more often than those that aren’t at the top? The same concept applies to growing as a person. To growing in business. The best and biggest successes are those that have made way more mistakes than everyone else. Additionally, the biggest successes are those that have not only made the mistakes, but have admitted them, apologized for them, and analyzed and learned from them. And that learning piece? That part is especially important, because if the lesson isn’t learned then the whole point of making the mistake is lost.

It seems simple, but it’s so fundamental. Want to be a success? Be the very best you know how to be. Make mistakes. Learn.

Then keep moving forward.

What do you think? How important do you think past mistakes have been to your success?

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  • Annie, the problem with mistakes is that while you may be okay with them, and maybe even want them since you know mistakes lead to success, your boss probably doesnt. In today's business environment, too many business are marginalizing and minimizing their business risk. These businesses are the ones who will turn mistakes into verbal warnings then written warnings and question your performance, or your allocation of time or company resources. These bosses wonder why their sales are slipping, their margins are falling, their competitors are winning. These bosses don't want mistakes because their boss cant afford mistakes... This is great for all of us who ARE willing to make mistakes because we will win if we are smart about or mistakes. The key is to encourage mistakes and make that the currency. Some of my best salesman didnt become great until I required them to stop reporting the yes's (the sales) and start reporting the no's (the rejections).... We need more people reporting the no's, the oops's, and the now-that-I-know-better's so we can get EVEN MORE yes's.

    Just my thoughts on this. Maybe I'm mistaken.
  • "Maybe I'm mistaken." First of all, it's your opinion, it can never be a mistake! And second, even if you were, isn't that the point? :)

    I do agree with you - there are distinct differences between the entrepreneurial thought on the subject of making mistakes and the corporate one. Which is too bad, as just like you mentioned, the key is to turn those mistakes into game-winners, into the next 'big' thing for the company. Whether you're the founder, mailroom attendant, or anywhere in between.

    Thanks for your thoughts!
  • cherylsweeney
    Well, to be the devil's advocate on this one, I'm not sure about this. Yeah, making mistakes and learning to see ourselves as less than perfect is important, and really a right of passage I think. But, people DO remember our mistakes. I will never forget the ball that rolled right between Billy Buck's legs in that all important game...but you know why I remember it so well? Because it was SO UNLIKE Bill Buckner to let that happen. It was a total fluke. At the end of the day, Bill Buckner will always be remembered as one of the best first basemen ever. And, I sorta liked him better after that...I mean he had a very endearing humanness to him!

    But, we can't let mistakes stop us. Allowing the possiblity, even probability of making a mistake to hold us back from taking chances, for reaching for our dreams, for attempting the ridiculous....well, to me that is failure. So what if I miss the mark! What I learned through that "mistake" is just as valuable, maybe even more so.

    And, really, what others think about us is just overrated. In the end, it isn't nearly as important as what we think of ourselves when we lay our head on the pillow. So, maybe I agree with you after all. I'm a terrible devils advocate!
  • Couldn't love how your comment came full circle any more!
  • I think mistakes are a big deal. I try real hard not to make them, and when I do it can be painful and a little embarrassing. But they're real important for moving forward and becoming the coldest mack you can be. For all the reasons you said. In addition to mistakes, I think failure is ok too. I'm a big believer in the concept of taking lots of actions, starting lots of things, and doing lots of stuff. I know there are some who would argue that it's better to focus all of your energies on one thing, but I think there is more chance of success when you have more "balls in the air." And the mistakes and failures are great learning points for everything from that point forward.
  • Ohh, great point, Josh. There is a BIG difference between making a mistake and learning from it, and failing. They're both learning experiences that will leave you stronger (hopefully), but you can make many mistakes on your way to a huge success. One too many mistakes, though, and you're on your way to failure instead. What makes the difference, I wonder? How many is too many? Are there some mistakes that are larger than others, more game-ending? Interesting...

    I do agree with not necessarily focusing on one thing. As long as you can, in fact, switch focus productively from one to the other while you have them all going, no point in throwing all your eggs into one basket.
  • Making mistakes - And learning from them are everything! Well that and not letting past mistakes prevent you from venturing out and trying something new.
  • Exactly!
  • Making mistakes - And learning from them are everything! Well that and not letting past mistakes prevent you from venturing out and trying something new.
  • Hey Annie :-),

    I liked the Salesman example. (never thought about it this way)

    The hardest part for me is to genuinely auto-convince myself that making mistakes (and fear of failing) is really O.K


  • Is truly is...if you get concerned about it, trying studying up on several big business successes. ALL of them have had bigger mistakes than their actual successes. And you know what? No one remembers them now for those mistakes! They're all but forgotten when the success comes along.
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