By John C Maxwell
I believe you can’t have too much instruction on the value of mistakes. So I thought I’d share one of my favorite illustrations on the subject. This is quoted in my book, Failing Forward.
Working artists David Bayles and Ted Orland, in their book, Art & Fear: Observations On the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking, tell a story about an art teacher who did an experiment with his grading system for two groups of students. It is a parable on the benefits of failure. Here is what happened:
The ceramics teacher announced on opening day that he was dividing the class into two groups. All those on the left side of the studio, he said, would be graded solely on the quantity of work they produced, all those on the right solely on its quality. His procedure was simple: on the final day of class he would bring in his bathroom scales and weigh the work of the “quantity” group: fifty pounds of pots rated an “A,” forty pounds a “B,” and so on. Those being graded on “quality,” however, needed to produce only one pot – albeit a perfect one – to get an “A.” Well, came grading time and a curious fact emerged: the works of the highest quality were all produced by the group being graded for quantity. It seems that while the “quantity” group was busily churning out piles of work – and learning from their mistakes – the “quality” group had sat theorizing about perfection, and in the end had little more to show for their efforts than grandiose theories and a pile of dead clay.
It doesn’t matter whether your objectives are in the area of art, business, ministry, sports, or relationships. The only way you can get ahead is to fail early, fail often, and fail forward.
Dr John C. Maxwell, Founder of EQUIP Leadership
Dear Dr Maxwell
I totally agree with you that mistakes are learning opportunities, however, I beg to differ when you say to fail often. Often? It can suck the mojo out of you! And when that happens, even the learning that stares at you won’t stick.
Shiney
Thanks some times a person feel like failure. Thanks for most wonderful word.
I will certainly remember them.
Dear mr. Maxwell
I like the words ‘fail forward’it gives an understanding. I’ve taught my children to fall forward in life and then used the example of a long jump athlete whom fall forward. On camps we’ve learned that all of us fall and it does’nt matter, but what matters is how long you lie down before you get up and go on. Now you said fail forward and I realize that it says the same – to learn from your mistakes,don’t let it hold you back, but go forward after you’ve learned from your mistake. Thank you. Currently I’m reading your book Everyone Communicates, Few Connect.