Make Mistakes, Just Not Twice. That’s For Plain Ol’ Stoopids!
There is a saying floating around that has been attributed to a mix of brilliant scholars. I believe it actually came from Albert Einstein, but nonetheless it speaks a critical truth: “There are no such things as mistakes; there are simply ways not to do it.”
As entrepreneurs we are told to make mistakes. They tell us we can’t have progress without regress. We need to have failures, mistakes and crash & burns so that we can learn; so that we can keep pushing toward progress. Sadly, some of us are so fearful of failure that we find the safest route is to do nothing. We find comfort by simply staying in bed, eating some Ramen Noodles and watching Reno 911 reruns. Doing nothing is the worst thing you can do.
But, there is another serious problem and it is rarely talked about. There are some people that don’t learn from their mistakes, and indeed thrive on making the same mistakes over and over again. In my opinion, those folks are entrepreneurial idiots. My redneck buddies from VA Tech would call those fools, “Plain Ol’ Stoopids!”
Here is the problem: These Stoopid Entrepreneurs take the idea of making mistakes too literally. They take uncalculated, off-the-wall risks over and over. When things don’t work out, they instantly jump on to their next crazy scheme. It becomes an endless game of repeating pot shots. They take reoccurring and more extreme shots in the dark. The downward spiral grows and grows.
To be a successful first time entrepreneur you need to expect and accept mistakes. You shouldn’t go out of your way to make them, but when you do, don’t rush into the next thing! Instead, sit back, grab a brew and ask yourself some important questions:
1. What were the errors you made? Why?
2. Why did the results differ from what you expected?
3. What needs to be adjusted so the next time you get your desired results?
4. Where there any benefits from your mistake that you can exploit?
5. Are there others that have made the same mistake? What can you learn from them?
6. How can you avoid making this mistake again?
7. Have you ever made this mistake before? If so, why in the hell did you repeat it?
You are not alone and you are not the first. I have made many, many entrepreneurial mistakes. One big enough that Inc. magazine kindly published an article called “Hey, We All Make Mistakes!” highlighting my blunder. Yes, I have made a ton of mistakes. But I have gained a crap load of knowledge from all of my errors. And I sure as hell make sure I don’t make the same mistake twice. That would make me just plain ol’ stoopid.
Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, just don’t make the same one twice. That would make you one of the Plain Ol’ Stoopids.
By Mike Michalowicz, Author of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur
December 29th, 2008
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December 29th, 2008
The version of the saying I’ve heard is: “There are no failures. Only unexpected results.”
I agree that an examination of choice and consequence is desperately necessary when we get unwanted results. After all, isn’t the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results?
Blessings,
Andrea
December 29th, 2008
This is very similiar to the advice your mother would give you. If you learn from your mistakes, than they weren’t mistakes merely stepping stones on you way to success. I believe that as long as you make a calculated risk, you are better of than doing nothing at all. It’s all about learning and growing.
December 29th, 2008
man, some people are just dum. Making the same mistakes more than once. That’s just dum.
December 29th, 2008
Dave,
Don’t forget mud spelled backwards is dum.
- Mike
December 29th, 2008
Great advice. Very true. Calculated risk is a good thing. “Look before you leap” is advice I always consider.
December 29th, 2008
@Sarah… yes to look before you leap, but LEAP for God’s sake. LEAP!!!
- Mike
December 29th, 2008
So true, Mike. Making mistakes and learning from them is one of my 13 Real-Life Exercises to Reinvent and Enhance Your Life. If you make the same mistake more than once, it’s no longer a mistake – it’s a habit!
@SpeakingDiva on Twitter
December 30th, 2008
I agree with every point of this post. one interesting thing i also find with most of these “stoopids” is that they don’t realize the many things they can gain from making only one mistake.
December 30th, 2008
Good old Albert Einstein gave us another quote that fits, the definition of insanity – doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results. Much like making the same mistake over and over expecting a different outcome.
Yes, entrepreneurs are encouraged to make mistakes. But that advice is derived from “don’t be afraid to make mistakes” not “go out and be a reckless idiot for the purpose of making a mistake.”
I especially agree with your statement “Doing nothing is the worst thing you can do.” I live by “if you aren’t growing you are dying and stagnation is not growth.” Do not let the fear of making mistakes stop you from moving forward. As humans we are engineered to make mistakes and learn. How many of you just got up and started walking and never fell down? Those of us with bi-pedal motion learned from our mistakes. So if you can walk, you have the ability. Quit repeating the same ones over and over and earning the label of Plain Ol’ Stoopids!
December 30th, 2008
I have 2 fun quotes to follow up….
1) A man who makes no mistakes is a man without an education.
2) There are no stupid questions, just stupid people who ask questions.
Have a great holiday!!!
December 30th, 2008
This is a great post! Thanks Michael! I blogged about this same phenomenon with a slightly different twist. You can find it here:
http://www.fireandmotionblog.com/2008/11/05/make-lots-of-mistakes/
Jared Lyda
http://www.fireandmotionblog.com
December 30th, 2008
[...] made mistakes along the way. Do you learn from such mistakes, or do you repeat the same mistakes? The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur has an interesting post about not being afraid to make mistakes, and that doing nothing due to a [...]
January 25th, 2010
I have made mistakes through out my whole career. Now I have have no career, no money, no friends, no personal life. WHY? Because I could not see my mistakes, still cannot. So, I learned nothing from my mistakes that caused job loss after job loss and the beat went on. Still cannot identify my mistakes specifically. Could do the job. Could not get along with the people. How any why I could not get along with other employees and my boss…do not know. Still do not know. One big bad unsolved mystery.
January 25th, 2010
@Cindy – Youch! Thank you for sharing and your honesty. I think, at the heart of it, we are all on this big spinning ball to learn and experience. Just because you are in a position of loss right now, I totally believe you can (better said, must) turn this into an opportunity to grow.
A friend of mine pointed out you can’t see the mountains unless you are in the valley. So now that you see where you are and where you want to be… it is time to make it happen… because you can!
Best to you, Cindy!
- Mike