Intelligent Failure
CHARLES F. KETTERING, the renowned engineer and inventor, believed that the more education people had the less likely they were to become inventors. From the time children start in school, he explained, they take many examination tests and are taught that failure is a disastrous thing. Inventors fail all the time but are made to feel triumphant if they succeed just once.
“I can take any group of young people and teach them to be inventors,” said Kettering, “if I can get them to throw off the fear of failure.”
“You fail because your ideas are not right, but you should learn to fail intelligently. By what I mean when you fail, find out why you failed and each time you fail it will bring you nearer to the goal.”
Kettering invented the lighting and ignition systems in automobiles, among other things. He knew what he was talking about.
Are you too hard on yourself when you make mistakes? Are you too hard on your people? If so, take a tip from Kettering – encourage intelligent failure in the pursuit of any goal.
