Are You Never Too Careful?

"Failure is the foundation of success, and the means by which it is achieved." Lao Tzu

The fear of making a mistake is printed into our minds from our early childhood. We learn through our upbringing and school that mistakes are something that everyone should try to avoid like the plague. But is that right? Can we never be too careful? It's hard to learn to ride a bike without a fall or two. So wear a helmet and take the chance.

President Abraham Lincoln established two companies who failed and lost 8 elections before he came president. Thomas Edison was told in school that he was so stupid that he could never learn anything and should just quit school. Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper because he lacked imagination and original ideas. Those man did not let mistakes and obstacles stop them, but turned it into the learning process that finally brought them to the success we know them for.

Mistakes are a necessary part of learning, development and innovation. There's a lot you don't understand until you try it on your self. And if you let the fear of failure stop you from trying something new, you'll face nothing but stagnation. That's why it is so important to look at mistakes as positive and necessary steps towards success. That way people can be encouraged to take chances, dare to try something new and if it doesn't work out, you have learned that and can move on, on your road to success. That way of thinking nurtures innovation and creativity, no only in schools or art, but also science and business.

The average self-made millionaire has been bankrupt or close to bankruptcy 3.2 times on average. That's good news for the innovators and start-ups who have difficulties seeing the light at the end of the tunnel of cash-shortage, lack of understanding and slow development. Something that's good for investors to keep in mind too. One mistake doesn't mean that the next attempt is more likely to fail. Actually, it should be the contrary. It should be more likely to succeed as that person hopefully learned something from the mistakes.

In marketing, I've seen that some companies have a position called "Experiential Marketing Manager". Just like companies put a certain percentage into R&D, the marketing department should do the same, experimenting with new mediums, methods and material. A lot of it will fail, but you might find some gems that will give the best ROI you've ever experienced in marketing. Without being willing to make some mistakes, you'll never find those gems.

A young man once asked Tom Watson, CEO of IBM, for advice on how to gain success. To the young man's surprise, the CEO replied that he should do mistakes. Actually, he should do twice as many mistakes as before. That way, he would speed up his development on the way to success. He encouraged him to dare to do mistakes and thus dare to take the risk. The more mistakes you make, the better the chances for one of those risky decisions to be your big success. Of course, all risks should be calculated.

What are the benefits of being too careful other than not making mistakes? And what's good about not making mistakes? Nothing! It's just not bad either.

What are the best mistakes you've ever made? My best? Making my 15 year old girlfriend pregnant. Now, 14 years later, we are happily married with 5 children. Tell us about your best mistake in business or personal live in the comments below.

Hjörtur Smárason

Comments

[Lara Kretler]

Great post - I especially love your honesty about how you and your wife started your family. I love happy endings! Thanks for the good reminder to get out there, take risks and make mistakes. It's the only way we can stretch ourselves and grow. I was so afraid to start my blog for a long time because I wanted to do it "right" and not make mistakes or embarrass myself. But you know what? Finally I just started it and it's been trial and error ever since, and I am getting better all the time. I'm so glad I finally took that jump and risked making mistakes with it.

[Tedel]

My greatest mistake? It was when I got horribly depressed and blamed myself all my troubles were because of my intelligence. That led me to speak with a friend, who happened to study psychology by the time, and it was then when she asked... "Jorge, aren't you a highly-gifted?". I told her I didn't know, and the replied telling me I had all the symptoms.

Now I know I am a highly-gifted adult plus a creative leader. That is about 0.004% of human population. Now I feel better because I am not sad of being abnormal. I am abnormal and now I know in which way.

I am happy.

[Kayla Fioravanti]

I wrote about one of the greatest mistakes we ever made as a business in an interview http://essentialu.typepad.com/my_weblog/the-kayla-interview.html that is posted on my blog. I was forwarded your blog because I often write about failure and fear in the heart to heart section http://essentialu.typepad.com/my_weblog/heart_to_heart/ of my blog. I love the honesty of your post.

[utan]

Thanks for your post.It encourages me alot.High risk high return.The more mistakes you make.the more experence and wisdom you get.Let's come over the fear of ourselves.

[SEO Company]

Well don't know whats going on but its not a Good way to do this. in my opinion we have to look again about this issue