It isn’t easy to admit when you make a mistake or fail at something. For some reason we don’t want to be told we are wrong, so we don’t talk about it. Why is that? People have been making mistakes for hundreds of years, but for some reason it seems easier not to admit it. We don’t want to look bad to someone else or be shamed for not getting it right the first time.
Some of the greatest inventions exist because the person who created it failed and was willing to look at it another way. One of my favorite products, Post-it Notes are one such example. Spencer Silver from 3M tried to create a strong adhesive but found it wasn’t working the way he had intended. Through trial and error, the Post-it Notes product was born and has evolved into multiple colors, styles, and sizes over the years.
Can you think about something that you have failed at and were vulnerable enough to see the silver lining? Maybe you could be the creative one to come up with the next big product or find a new way to do things simply because you failed or made a mistake.
The willingness to admit that things didn’t go as expected, allows you to demonstrate vulnerability to others. It helps them see that they don’t have to be perfect. They can make mistakes and it’s okay. It is expected that you will make mistakes. Everyone has made mistakes and will tell you that is the best way to learn. The lessons that you learn in those situations are the ones that stick (no pun intended) with you the most.