Have you made any big mistakes lately? If not, you’re missing out. Seriously. Mistakes–failures–can be some of our best teachers. I’m not talking about hideous tragedies; those are lessons we should definitely learn from the mistakes of others: don’t drink and drive, don’t cheat, and don’t break the big 10. No, I’m talking about the little oversights that prevent larger, more costly, errors: like the time I overlooked a typo so obvious that it practically pointed to itself.
Back in the 90’s, I worked for a small regional college: University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma–Oklahoma’s ONLY public liberal arts university! (I was a recruiter.) At my suggestion, we held the college’s very first visitation day for potential students. I planned the whole thing, from inception to completion. The event was well attended and was considered a success by the university. Me? I was still reeling from the mistake I had made six weeks previously.
We had designed these way cool invitations and though we had a shoestring budget, we got permission to have them printed professionally–a pricey option in those days. They arrived and looked perfect! Well, mostly. One problem: when I okayed the proof, I had failed to notice the incorrect date emblazoned in the middle of every invitation.
My mistake cost the university money we didn’t have; we had to trash the originals and reprint them with the correct information. Today, I literally cannot remember much of anything about that event other than those flubbed-up invitations. I could describe those down to the font size! I was absolutely mortified by my error.
Here’s the thing, though: I have NEVER done that again. Whether I am ordering t-shirts or announcements, for work or for personal use, I check the proof carefully and have another person or four check it as well. I learned from my mistake. The successes I experienced that day are forgotten. But my failure? That lesson has stayed with me forever.
Messed up lately? Consider it a life lesson. Value your mistakes as steps on the journey to becoming a better you. Mainly, be sure that you don’t waste them! Because that? That’d be a huge mistake!
