Everything Great is Built on Mistakes
Here’s a promise you can count on: As soon as you step outside of your realm of expertise, you’re going to make mistakes.
The first time that humans attempted a Transatlantic Cruise from England to the U.S., the captain ignored warnings and hit an iceberg, sinking his boat to the bottom of the ocean.
HUGE MISTAKE. Fortunately, lessons were learned and now thousands of people make that same journey every year.
Engineers and architects set out to build a massive tower in Pisa, Italy, and forgot to ensure stable ground conditions underneath the far-too-thin foundation. Italy now has the Leaning Tower, which attracts countless visitors.
While doing bacterial research in his lab, Alexander Fleming accidentally left the lid off one of his petri dishes, then departed for a vacation. When he returned, he discovered mold growing in the contaminated dish, which was nothing odd, except that it had killed all the cultivated Staph bacteria. This accident gave us penicillin.
Making mistakes is essential to development and advancement.
In fact, if you have gotten to the point that you no longer make mistakes and everything is smooth sailing, then it’s time for you to take bigger risks!
The best way to learn, grow, and evolve is to take on a new challenge. The world is full of problems that need solutions, and as a human, you are an excellent problem solver. Child labor, world hunger, war, famine, disease, and depression…as you can see, we have our work cut out for us.
As you try to tackle whatever challenges you face, you will make mistakes. You will feel discouraged, frustrated, and maybe even like you are not making a difference. These occasions are cause for celebration, for they are clear indicators that you’re onto something new, and as the old saying goes, “Problems aren’t solved by the behaviors that created them.”
Embracing the Inevitable: Mistakes as Stepping Stones
When we think of the word "mistake," it's easy to conjure up negative connotations—failure, regret, embarrassment. But what if we started seeing mistakes as stepping stones? Each one brings us closer to our goals, whether it's personal growth, innovation, or creating something entirely new. Think of the Wright brothers, who didn't just one day wake up with a working airplane. They crashed and burned (quite literally) countless times before getting it right. Every failed attempt was a lesson in aerodynamics, weight distribution, and propulsion. Without those crashes, we wouldn't have modern aviation today.
It's comforting to remember that every expert was once a beginner who fumbled through their first attempts. Steve Jobs, for example, was famously ousted from Apple, the company he co-founded. It was a humbling experience, one that could have ended his career. Instead, he took the lessons from that failure, started anew with companies like NeXT and Pixar, and eventually returned to Apple to lead it into one of its most successful eras.
The Role of Failure in Creativity
Creativity thrives in environments where mistakes are not just tolerated but encouraged. When you're trying something new, you're exploring uncharted territory, and mistakes are simply part of the map-making process. They highlight what doesn’t work, which is just as important as discovering what does.
Consider the world of art. Vincent van Gogh, who is now one of the most celebrated artists in history, was largely unappreciated during his lifetime. He struggled with his mental health, was often destitute, and sold only one painting while alive. Yet, van Gogh's "mistakes"—his bold color choices, his thick, unrefined brushstrokes—were the very elements that later defined his unique style and made his work timeless. If van Gogh had played it safe, sticking to the traditional techniques of his time, the world might never have known the beauty of his masterpieces.
The Growth Mindset: Redefining Mistakes
Psychologist Carol Dweck introduced the concept of the "growth mindset," the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. People with a growth mindset view mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow, rather than as evidence of failure. This mindset is crucial for success in any field because it fosters resilience and a willingness to experiment and innovate.
Take Thomas Edison, who famously said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Edison's relentless pursuit of invention was grounded in his belief that every mistake was a step toward success. It's this kind of thinking that leads to breakthroughs—both personal and professional.
Why We Fear Mistakes
Despite the clear benefits of making mistakes, many of us are still afraid of them. This fear is deeply ingrained, often from childhood, where mistakes might have led to punishment or embarrassment. In school, we're taught to strive for perfection—mistakes on tests are penalized, and the goal is always to get everything "right." This mindset can be paralyzing in adulthood, especially in creative and entrepreneurial endeavors.
The fear of mistakes can lead to a stagnant life, where the need for security and certainty outweighs the desire to explore and grow. However, it's important to recognize that this fear is just another obstacle to overcome. The more we challenge it, the easier it becomes to embrace the inevitable slip-ups that come with trying something new.
Celebrating Mistakes: A New Perspective
Imagine if we celebrated our mistakes as much as we celebrate our successes. What if, instead of feeling ashamed of a misstep, we shared it with others as a badge of honor? This shift in perspective could revolutionize the way we approach challenges. Instead of striving for a mistake-free life, we could aim to make more mistakes—each one bringing us closer to our goals.
In the world of startups, for example, "failing fast" is often touted as a strategy for success. The idea is to quickly identify what doesn’t work, learn from it, and move on to the next idea. This approach not only speeds up the learning process but also reduces the fear of failure by normalizing it.
The Collective Benefit of Mistakes
When you make a mistake, it doesn’t just benefit you—it benefits everyone around you. Mistakes create opportunities for shared learning. In a team setting, one person's error can lead to a group discussion, where different perspectives are brought in, and new solutions are born. This collective problem-solving is what drives innovation and progress.
Think about the medical field, where mistakes are documented and studied extensively. Every time a doctor, nurse, or researcher makes a mistake, it becomes a valuable learning tool for others in the field. This culture of transparency and continuous improvement has led to countless advances in patient care and treatment.
Taking the Leap
So, what's holding you back from making that next big mistake? Fear of judgment? Fear of failure? Remember, everything great is built on a foundation of mistakes. The Leaning Tower of Pisa stands tall (albeit at an angle) as a testament to human error and the beauty that can arise from it. Penicillin, the miracle drug that has saved millions of lives, was born from a careless oversight.
Taking the leap into the unknown, with all its risks and uncertainties, is the only way to achieve true growth. It’s not about being reckless or disregarding caution; it’s about recognizing that mistakes are a natural part of the process. They’re not to be feared but embraced.
Embrace the Journey
The journey of making mistakes is as important as the destination. Each misstep, wrong turn, and failure teaches you something invaluable. These lessons build resilience, sharpen your skills, and ultimately lead to success. So, the next time you find yourself hesitating because you're afraid of making a mistake, remind yourself of all the great things that have come from errors.
Mistakes are the stepping stones to greatness. Without them, progress is impossible. So, go ahead—make that mistake. Take the risk, learn from it, and keep moving forward. The world needs more people willing to embrace the beauty of imperfection and the opportunities that mistakes provide.
What new mistake will YOU make today?
With Love,
Camilla
