Mistakes are gonna’ happen. That’s just a part of life. But, the more we can create an environment where they are less likely to happen, all the better.
Please don’t misunderstand this as though I’m saying we should fear mistakes. No, hopefully we learn from them and use them as a springboard for improvement. There are, however, ways we can decrease the odds of “unnecessary” mistakes taking place, while accepting they might still happen.
In baseball, a 3rd baseman making the throw to first base will occasionally miss the mark and throw it into the dugout for an error instead. Mistakes happen. Very forgivable. However, if he or she practices that throw on a continual basis, the chances of an error are much less likely.
In sales, you might mess up during a presentation. However, if you have learned the presentation correctly in advance, sought out feedback, and practiced a number of times, the chances of the mistake happening are much less likely.
Yet, we are human and mistakes happen. Let’s not fear them. And let’s learn from them and use them to great learning advantage. Still, let’s not hope for them (life throws us enough curve balls naturally). And, let’s create systems and processes to keep the unnecessary ones from happening to the best of our abilities.
What do YOU think?
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Hello Bob,
What a timely post. I just committed several mistakes on my blog and you were generous enough to help me fix them through your wisdom. Thank you!
And I completely agree that creating process and system around us is the best way to minimize those mistakes that we may commit more frequently if done without.
I remember Joe Picci, the author if the book, “Selling Naked On The Phone”, in one training he did for our group, said, “Process Creates Posture”. In sales, I think that is so absolutely true. Without having an established process, a system in place, it is very hard to have good posture and therefore minimizing the mistakes.
Regards,
Kumar
One of my team mates just learned a big lesson, by not practicing a system that we use to make sure our bride is getting “the correct dress.” _____ came up and asked me to write the order for dress #889. I was taken aback, because from across the room, without hearing a word they spoke, I knew that a different dress was the brides favorite. I asked her to please have her bride try on the other one first, and to go back and forth until she realized which one SHE REALLY loved. She said it was fine and didn’t want to do it. I went into the dressing room and asked the bride, “Are you sure you don’t love this one?” And I pointed to the one my heart knew she loved. She ‘said’ she wanted #889.
I stepped away and allowed _____ to write the order. A few days later, before I placed the order, I asked herto call her bride and see if that’s still the one. She still insisted I order it. I said, “This will be a big lesson for you and hopefully won’t cost us too much.” She laughed.
Fast forward four months, the dress arrived and I get a knock on my office door, with _____ saying, “There is a bride crying in the dressing room.” Let me guess who, I said. I went in and had to assure her that this special order dress is indeed the one she ordered. I pulled out the original sample, and the original pictures of her in the original sample. Yip, it was that dress. She left feeling just okay. At her second fitting, her dad insisted that it’s the wrong dress. I was out of town and my team mate, (not _____) helped the bride find a different dress. Guess which one? Yip, the original one that I knew she loved. She now owns two wedding dresses and I’m trying to sell one for her.
Hmmm…this is a lesson for me too. I’m going to hog tie that bride and force her to try on “the one.” Not really, but I WILL insist that I’m not taking the order.
Kumar: Thank you. Yes, Joe Pici is a great teacher. I like that statement, Process Creates Posture.” Sure does! Thank you for sharing with us!
Amy: That’s a perfect illustration. Exactly the point of the article. Thank you for sharing!
So many great points in this post and I couldn’t agree more about the importance of preparation to reduce mistakes from happening.
Being 25 and running my own company, I make many mistakes. I do my best to prepare as much as possible, however I am constantly challenging and putting myself out there. Thus I find myself failing more than I would like but I try and put a positive spin on it by learning from those mistakes!
Some have told me that if you aren’t failing (or making mistakes) then you aren’t pushing yourself hard enough regardless of how much you prepare. Do you agree or believe in this theory?
Blake: Thank you for your kind words and comments. Great wisdom from a 25 year old or from anyone of any age. You are obviously going places! Sure, you should be making mistakes. That is certainly one way to grow (as well as learning from “OTHER PEOPLES’ Mistakes” so you don’t have to make them all yourself). The point of the article was that we don’t want to make mistakes just for the sake of making mistakes. Mistakes are going to happen because that’s part of life and part of the success process. However, we still want to avoid them whenever possible and one way to do that is to create an environment (via processes, systems, practice, habit, etc.) that will help us to avoid the mistakes that are not *necessary* to make. And, regarding your question in your last paragraph, yes, I do believe that. Again, though…very important that the saying is not misinterpreted that one should do things incorrectly when there is a way to do them correctly just so the person can feel as though – well, as long as I’m making mistakes – I’m growing. That’s delusion, not growth. Thank you so much again for sharing your thoughts with us, Blake.
My apologies for the misinterpretation of the post! Your insight and guidance despite my lack of understanding to the direction of the post hit home for the following reason.
Preparation is a core fundamental for anyone who aspires to achieve their goals regardless of their age. With preparation comes the fact that the mentality of “well, as long as I’m making mistakes – I’m growing” is not nor never will be acceptable. Instead you have taught me (and as I have learned from experience) that if you work your tail off to prepare, you give your yourself that best chance to avoid making mistakes. However, if you happen to make a mistake, learn from it, move on and do your best not to make it again!
I’m sure this principle is elementary for you and your audience, however I really appreciate you taking the time to provide me with your feedback and insight on the matter.
Looking forward to your teleseminar on Wednesday!
The mistakes that bother me the most are the ones that make other people feel bad and at the same time make me look bad. Ugh! Made one of those yesterday which just now came to light. I hate that feeling because of course I don’t want to make anyone feel bad.
Ugh. Hard to “fix” those…
Blake: Thank you. I didn’t see any misinterpretation of the post at all. I was only referring to the quote in your final paragraph that you asked whether I believed in. I felt your thoughts and interpretation were terrific in both of your comments! Looking forward to having you on the call with on Wednesday!
Beth: I hear you. Those are always particularly uncomfortable. I’m sorry, my friend.
Hello Bob! Awesome article! What’s wrong with PERFECT????? LOL Just kidding 🙂
I believe that the most important thing is TO BE YOURSELF – and have a genuin wish to ADD VALUE or said in another way – wishing to HELP.
Because what is right and what is wrong – I gues you can have as many oppinions about that, as the number of persons you ask.
I know from my experience from personal coaching, that if you deliver yourself and really want to help – you can technically make a lot of mistakes, and it could not matter less. But deliver a “perfect” show – and it would matter the world, any person would know something is wrong consious or subconcious.
These leasons I learned from my mistakes and my observations – and I treasure those teachings.
Thank God for mistakes, if you learn from them and have the courage to change from your own observations, and not from what the majority is saying (keeping your personal integrity).
Lots of love from Denmark 🙂
Lene: Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feedback with us, my friend…all the way from Denmark!