Does the thought of making a mistake fill you with terror? Do you emit a cynical chuckle when someone—probably the same person who said “There’s no such thing as a dumb question.” —says “Fail early and often”?
I dedicate this piece, which draws on a post by Alan Norton, to all of us who get that quiver in the pit of the gut when we contemplate the possibility of error. Please read the entire article. It’s worth it, and the quotes that accompany each law are wonderful.
Herewith, Mr. Norton’s 10 immutable laws:
- #1 — Everyone makes mistakes. And we have the power to correct them.
- #2 — Not all mistakes are bad mistakes. Some mistakes are serendipitous. I bet you can think of some you’ve made that turned out o.k.
- #3 — Mistakes not seen by others are not mistakes. As long as you correct them before they’re seen by others.
- #4 — Ignorance does not excuse your mistakes. Enough said.
- #5 — Mistakes occur at the very worst time. Usually when you have the least amount of time to recognize and fix them, such as when you’re nearing a deadline.
- #6 — Mistakes beget mistakes. This is a good reason to take a deep breath and ask several key questions. (Read the article for the questions.)
- #7 — Mistakes made with computers propagate faster and cause more damage. IT professionals need to proofread their work, too.
- #8 — Mistakes of inaction are mistakes nonetheless. An important law for those of us who stand there and ring our hands.
- #9 — Failing to own up to your mistake is a mistake. If you can’t fix it fast, hiding it is a really bad idea. And allowing a colleague to be implicated is pretty sleazy.
- #10 — Failing to learn from your mistakes is a mistake. (Mistakes are all part of the journey.)
Mr. Norton notes that his favorite mistake is intentional and calls our attention to the “spirit string” found in Navajo hand-woven rugs. The string allows the creator’s spirit to escape the rug and reminds her that only God is perfect.
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