Mistakes Wise People Only Make Once
By Sandy Schroeder
It’s impossible to motor through life without making a few mistakes. But sometimes we repeat the same ones again and again.
If you struggle with mistakes, as many of us do, there are ways to change.
Travis Bradberry, co-founder of TalentSmart, an agency that services many Fortune500 companies, tells us how to change. He says admitting a mistake can be hard to do. But it really is the only way to avoid repeating it. Successful people learn from mistakes, turning them into stepping stones.
Mistakes to Avoid
Being the best person you can be, these are the things you want to avoid.
Giving In to Temptation – If you cannot resist rehashing the weekend every Monday morning while your work waits, you may want to rethink your schedule. We live in a busy world with countless options. Success demands that we stay focused and deliver.
Failing to Do the Research – It can be tempting to just plunge in to a new project without really taking the time to find out what’s been done before, or where the best resources are. Arm yourself with the facts first.
Keeping Everyone Happy – We all want to please others but that can get out of hand quickly. Soon you may be bouncing from one situation to the next, pleasing nobody. We have to operate from our own viewpoint, assimilating feedback, and making the best calls possible.
Expecting New Answers – Albert Einstein said, “Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result.” But that does not stop us from repeating actions at home, or on the job, that failed the first time.
Ignoring Real Numbers – It’s great fun to just make things happen, without projecting costs, or adding up the numbers as they appear. The totals always turn out to be larger, and frequently painful. Start with a real budget. Check it as you go.
Missing the Overview – Most of us love a groove. When everything is working well, we keep going. But that can be deceiving. The deeper we go into our work, without assessing the overall situation, the more likely it is that we will miss the bigger picture benefits. Take the time, once a week, to look around, ask questions, and profit from what you learn.
Often, mistakes can be fixed. We just need to accept that they can happen, and learn from them as they emerge.
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