Dear Watercooler, Is failure the only way to learn in life?

[MsLady]

Generally, I feel like i never learn until i actually fall flat on my face. Then i know not to go that route again. Can't be like that with everyone, can it? Or am i just stubborn cos even when the signs clearly state "do not trespass" is when Mslady loves to stroll into the forbidden ground and i do this subconsciously - like my mental state wants me to take that unnecessary hopeless risk out of curiosity. Aah...I fell flat on my face again recently and i have nothing but regrets. But why do i regret when i saw it coming Now i know not to do that again. This can't be real. But i did learn though. I failed but i learned. So brings the question in my mind, is failure the only way?

...just pondering

 

[The_Doc_Man]

MsLady, there are only two teachers. Experience, which is the ability to recognize your mistakes when you make them again, and Study, which most people can do until they reach a limit and go stark raving mad.

Study involves reading the history of someone else's mistakes. If you don't learn from history, you'll repeat it yourself.

Sometimes when we make a mistake, we blush. Why? Don't know for sure, but Mark Twain said "Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to." But making a mistake is no reason to blush. Making a mistake even with benefit of experience (see above),... now THAT'S reason to blush.

These days, I don't blush any more. No.... don't laugh. Don't scoff. It's true! You see, I'm on daily doses of Niacin, which causes me to appear flushed. I promise, my face is red only because of the medicine... really!

 

[Banana]

MsLady, if this is any consolation, I had to put in a week worth of trial and error to learn how to effectively manage ODBC sources. Rest assured, I have read whitepapers, looked up in Google, Usenets and forums to give me the basics. Even so, there were still holes or maybe some points where the information were sketchy, contradictory or just downright not clear at all.

Thus, I had to experiment with several different settings before I could learn anything about why Jet behaves the way it does. During the experiments, I've made several steps backwards when I found that I had ran down a blind alley, and my final solution (well, I wouldn't call it final, but at least I know it works) was a far cry from what I started/envisioned with.

Looking back, the present solution I have was so simple, but I could have never learned about it had I not underwent the lengthy trial and error. But more importantly, in that week, I learned *far* more about Jet than I ever did in last year with Access.

So, failures seem to me a very good thing™.

 

[David Eagar]

Don't remember who originally said it, but it works for me:
"Show me someone who has never made a mistake and I will show you someone who has never made anything"

 

[MsLady]

MsLady, there are only two teachers. Experience, which is the ability to recognize your mistakes when you make them again, and Study, which most people can do until they reach a limit and go stark raving mad.

Study involves reading the history of someone else's mistakes. If you don't learn from history, you'll repeat it yourself.

Sometimes when we make a mistake, we blush. Why? Don't know for sure, but Mark Twain said "Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to." But making a mistake is no reason to blush. Making a mistake even with benefit of experience (see above),... now THAT'S reason to blush.

These days, I don't blush any more. No.... don't laugh. Don't scoff. It's true! You see, I'm on daily doses of Niacin, which causes me to appear flushed. I promise, my face is red only because of the medicine... really!

Your post touches me. It sounds like poetry. You know, a while ago i promised myself to add lots of biographies to my library. Like you say, there's always something to learn from other people's history, i know it for sure. But perhaps the lesson just don't stick as much as when you try it and stumble

Now that you remind me, i'll read more biographies and i'll be sure to hold one or two lessons from there

 

[MsLady]

MsLady, if this is any consolation, I had to put in a week worth of trial and error to learn how to effectively manage ODBC sources. Rest assured, I have read whitepapers, looked up in Google, Usenets and forums to give me the basics. Even so, there were still holes or maybe some points where the information were sketchy, contradictory or just downright not clear at all.

Thus, I had to experiment with several different settings before I could learn anything about why Jet behaves the way it does. During the experiments, I've made several steps backwards when I found that I had ran down a blind alley, and my final solution (well, I wouldn't call it final, but at least I know it works) was a far cry from what I started/envisioned with.

Looking back, the present solution I have was so simple, but I could have never learned about it had I not underwent the lengthy trial and error. But more importantly, in that week, I learned *far* more about Jet than I ever did in last year with Access.

So, failures seem to me a very good thing™.

*Sigh of relief. So i guess it's normal afterall?! I find comfort in what you have said and that's all i've ever known. Dive in-suffer-learn! It's just that when someone dives into anything headfirst and then something goes wrong - the trauma is usually almost unbearable than the case where one steps in carefully, one careful step/phase at a time. Now isn't this other careful approach seen as cowardice? Is there much learning here? But there's less risk right? Cos surely, one would have the opportunity to back up quickly at the smell of trouble? Perhaps this is a better way to live and learn? Maybe slowly but surely? Any success stories on this other side? Maybe i should give this a try for once. Just maybe.

[And this applies to every aspect of life]

 

[Banana]

Well, I wouldn't think that one is better than other. In fact, I'd think one who does homework *first* and is not afraid to go ahead and dive in at a whim of curiosity, is the same one who will reach Rome faster than either who persistently stick to manuals or experiment with every possible trial, even ones that are clearly doomed to fail.

 

[Ron_dK]

...I'd think one who does homework *first* and is not afraid to go ahead and dive in at a whim of curiosity....

RTFM
Most of us don't.
I remember making my first amplifier without reading any documentation, blew up in 2 seconds. It was only the 4th version that stood out for more than one hour.

Btw what is ISO 9000 LAD ?

 

[Banana]

RTFM
Most of us don't.

Ooo, I have just the comic for you!

I remember making my first amplifier without reading any documentation, blew up in 2 seconds. It was only the 4th version that stood out for more than one hour.

Ouch.

While I do agree that documentations always are a good start, I've never seen a documentation as a finish.

Btw what is ISO 9000 LAD ?

<tongue in cheek> A superhero. </tongue in cheek>

Edit: Rereading your question, I realized you were asking me *what* is a ISO 9000... ISO-9000 is basically a quality management certification. Useless at that.

 

[Ron_dK]

I know the ISO 9000 series, since I work with that almost every day ( assessments of plants against ISO 9001 or ISO 29001),
I just wondered who the superhero ISO9000Lad may be ?

While I do agree that documentations always are a good start

Why do you still violate the 1st normal form then ?

 

[Rabbie]

Why do you still violate the 1st normal form then ?

Don't you know that Banana is way above normal

 

[David Eagar]

RTFM
Most of us don't.
I remember making my first amplifier without reading any documentation, blew up in 2 seconds. It was only the 4th version that stood out for more than one hour.

Btw what is ISO 9000 LAD ?

You know when you have really reached the end of the line when:

You READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!!!!

For me, I read and, God forbid, they are actually accurate and they work, I have learnt nothing (other than click next, next, next)

Dive in, muck it up, search and manage to FIX IT - NOW I understand how it works

 

[ColinEssex]

Of course, there are some people / countries / governments that never learn by their mistakes.

Col

 

[Rabbie]

While I do agree that documentations always are a good start, I've never seen a documentation as a finish.

There used to be a saying in the computer industry

"The job's not finished till the paperwork's done" with a cartoon of a person on the toilet.

 

[KenHigg]

Of course, there are some people ... that never learn by their mistakes.

Col

Amen to that -

 

[Jacob Mathai]

A little bit of motivational thinking may be helpful in MsLady's situation (IMHO). Instead of thinking "If only I did this or that", think "next time I will do it this way."

Instead of focusing on the past, it becomes a focus on the future.

I heard that from a preacher and it has helped me.

 

[CraigDolphin]

The only real failure in life is the failure to try. -Author Unknown

Keep trying.

 

[ajetrumpet]

The only real failure in life is the failure to try. -Author Unknown

Keep trying.

Author found for New Quote

"The only real failure in life is the failure to try. " - Craig Dolphin

Hey, BTW, what's with the signature?

 

[Len Boorman]

Don't remember who originally said it, but it works for me:
"Show me someone who has never made a mistake and I will show you someone who has never made anything"

favourite saying of mine also but with the addition

"He who makes the same mistake twice is a fool"

Hmmmmm depends on definition of "same" and "twice"

L

 

[CraigDolphin]

Hey, BTW, what's with the signature?

Just a bit of fun on my part to blend my occupational interests with my appreciation for many of the speci...er, folks who contribute a great deal to this board.