To Error is Failure

Making a mistake is often equated with failing, which is a common misconception. These people tend to see the world in two ways: either you succeed or you fail at everything you put your mind to. Teachers, parents, coaches, and even coworkers have instilled this "mindset" in them as children. A mental block prevents individuals from attempting something new, taking a best chance, becoming a calculated risk-taker, and learning to be innovative because of the "to error is to fail" mentality. Famous modern artist Vincent Van Gogh once stated, "What would life be like if we didn't have the courage to do anything?"

When I was in school, we were taught that "to err is to fail." The teacher would use a red pen whenever I finished a test. The teacher marked the response with a "X" if it was incorrect. A failing grade taught me that "to fail is to make an error." Teachers in those days rarely allowed students to retake a test.

Many children are raised by parents who believe that making mistakes is a sign of failure. Even when children do something right, parents often criticize or chastise them when they make a mistake. Many first-time parents have a rigid upbringing, adhering to the old school mentality of "learn by doing." There's no second chance to get things properly the second time around. As a result, the toddler comes to understand that "to mistake is to fail."

In athletics, as a kid, I learnt that winning was what mattered most. If your baseball or ice hockey team triumphed, you were hailed as a success and given credit. You "failed" to win the game if your team lost due to errors or a lack of execution. As a result, you learned that making mistakes is not enjoyable or fun. There was no way for you to win the game a second time and experience the joy of triumph. You've now understood that "to make a mistake is to fail."

People learn to "fear failure" as they grow older. Many people are afraid to take risks because they don't want to fail. The fear of being "rejected" kept this guy from asking women out on dates. A woman I know has worked in the same position for more than two decades. She hasn't applied for any other jobs since she's afraid she won't be hired for the new position. Another woman I know would like not to take her driving test and instead choose to rely on public transportation. She'd be able to buy a car and go wherever she wants if she had a driver's license. Fear of "failing the driving test" is all she can think about. "Crashing her new automobile" is another one of her fantasies.

There are certain workplaces that have a one-size-fits-all attitude. "Tyrants" are CEOs, executives, and managers who have this mindset. Mistakes are met with ridicule and punishment, including threats of dismissal. Promotion and wage raises are given to employees who perform well. If you perform below expectations, you will not receive a raise or promotion. As a general rule, you will be escorted out if you fail. So, you learn that "to make a mistake is to make a mistake." However, the most successful businesses, led by the most capable executives, adopt a different tack. Employees are regarded as the company's most important resource. When an employee makes a mistake, it's an opportunity to learn and grow. Additional coaching, training, feedback, and mentorship will be provided by the company. Many people would rather not work for a tyrant or a firm that believes that making a mistake is the same as failing. Despite this, many companies continue adhere to the tyrannical manager's practices.

People who are successful have failed significantly more times than they have succeeded. You can learn a lot from reading the biographies of successful people. You'll find that most successful people have failed several times before they achieve their goals. They are different from the average individual because they endure and use their mistakes as a way to improve their strategy, technique, or approach. They don't "beat themselves up" when they make a mistake; instead, they see it as an opportunity to learn and grow. The inventor of the incandescent light bulb, Thomas Edison, conducted a number of trials until he found the correct bulb. "I failed my way to success," claimed Edison. The Wright brothers, the men credited with inventing the airplane, built and tested numerous models before finally producing a flying machine. Henry Ford, the inventor of the vehicle, spent years perfecting his methods before mass-producing the appropriate automobile. According to Ford, "A person who is afraid of failure restricts his actions." The only way to re-start more sensibly is via failure."

A belief that "to make an error is a failure" is an impediment to one's ability to come up with new ideas and produce new works of art is a mental block that must be overcome in order to be more creative. Anyone who has attempted to learn how to play the piano understands how important it is to practice as much as possible in order to become proficient. As a result of their blunders, they have learned how to improve their technique. Creativity, too, is a procedure that must be worked through step by step. Rarely does one have a "moment of inspiration." There are no shortcuts in the creative process; you have to be willing to take risks and learn from your failures. As a rule, the vast majority of writers have to modify their work numerous times before it is published. In order to get the "perfect shot," most photographers take a lot of photos. When it comes to taking the perfect image, photographers are taught that they should bracket their exposures. For example, the photographer may use aperture priority f/ll to capture the image at an aperture of around f/16. Another option is for the photographer to take a series of shots, each one slightly different from the next in terms of exposure. The photographer will choose the best picture in the digital darkroom. Ambiguity is also embraced by creatives. As a result, they have an understanding of the complexity of life, which includes a wide range of possible outcomes and solutions. It's common for creative people to focus on a single option, the one they believe is best for the project at hand.

Many times in my life, I've committed mistakes. Smoking cigarettes was one of the worst mistakes I ever made. I smoked at least ten cigarettes a day for five years as a young adult. I began smoking as a recreational user. When I went out with a girlfriend who smoked, I'd light up with her whenever we went to a pub or a coffee shop. It didn't take long for me to get dependent on nicotine on a physical and psychological level. For the past 10 years, I've been smoking, and I've developed asthma as a result. It took me ten tries to finally "quit the smoking habit." That was back in 1991. Only once, in 1997, during a particularly trying period of my life, did I feel the want to light up again. I was aware that smoking was harmful to my health when I was doing it. For the second time in six months, I decided to give up smoking. 16 years have passed since my last drag. My error taught me a valuable lesson, and I'm grateful for it. According to some who have tried to give up, "I am unable to do so." To put it another way, the speaker is implying that quitting smoking is not a priority for him or her. When you make a mistake, you have the opportunity to learn and grow.

As a child, when I made a bad decision, I was quite critical of myself. "You messed up," the voice in my head would say. As a result of this self-doubt, I would frequently get unhappy and even suicidal. The mistake tainted my experience and made me feel like a "failure," even though I never gave up. As I've become older, I've come to see mistakes from two perspectives: It is possible to make mistakes in some areas of life. The risk of injury or death increases dramatically when one attempts to scale a mountain's face and then slips. There is a substantial likelihood of death if you leap out of a plane without a working parachute. Because of this, I avoid high-risk mistakes and failures that do not provide me a second chance. Instead, I subscribe to the philosophy of "taking mistakes in stride" that is held by many successful inventors, artists, and scientists. Mistakes are no longer failures to me. Mistakes are a chance for me to learn and grow. As a kind of guidance, a mistake serves as a nudge in the right direction when it comes to improving my abilities in some area of endeavor. "Only those who dare to fail greatly may accomplish," stated John F. Kennedy.