I can agree with this, I think if you avoid doing stuff you regret later you will be alright. Just don't do incredibly stupid stuff

I would definitely not tell that cop to go f@#k himself if I could do it over. I'll take the cash and forgo the wisdom.

Wisdom does not come 100% from "mistakes". But even if it did, I wish that we could give ourselves permission to MAKE mistakes. To take a more experimental approach to life, so that we could accept whatever outcomes occur -- "good" or "bad" -- as data, and steer from that. To regard unwanted outcomes to be as much a source of info as wanted outcomes; in fact, to recognize that most outcomes will be unwanted ones.

Failure is not experiencing failed experiments; it's failing to learn from them.

And if you still fall into the pit sometimes, it's nothing to beat yourself up over. I am learning this.

You are in dc, so to be fair it is a big big pit.

at least you know about the pit

hell yes

You are in dc, so to be fair it is a big big pit.

A good post. I try to make every mistake I can! When I was hired by my present employer 8 years ago... I told the VP and Pres that I learn best by getting my nose bloody and definitely NOT by micromanagement. You want me to learn borders? Slap my hand when I go too far! I'm usually good about managing my own numbers but if you think I am lagging in some area... Come kick me in the ass!

I told them I would make every mistake there is... ONCE! (Perhaps twice in some cases to be honest!) I told them that learning from mistakes is called EXPERIENCE and I would be the first to call out if I made a mistake so that others could learn from it. This has made for some tense moments at meetings and on conference calls as some other team members don't like admitting their mistakes. I always try to own mine and learn!

Yes... good advice.