Comments on: Success is measured by….?

By: Wes Trochlil

Wes Trochlil — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:56:40 +0000

Haven’t read it, but will check it out.

I’m not disputing the value of failure. I believe strongly that we learn far more from our failures than our successes. But I’d bet that just about any “failure” in a science endeavor had some ultimate objective in mind, and that the objective wasn’t “making an effort.” ;-)

By: David Janes

David Janes — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:54:22 +0000

I think that depends on the field of endeavor. In science, “failures” are often more instructive than “successes” and teaching a child that just because they get a different result they have somehow failed is probably not serving them well. Perhaps it is more important to teach that failure happens and is not necessarily bad, particularly if it can be explained (this is different from being excused, by the way).

Have you read “Being Wrong”?

By: Wes Trochlil

Wes Trochlil — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:43:31 +0000

I agree totally. My point is that “effort” is being encouraged, when “effort” is rarely what we need to accomplish our goals. Yes, some effort will cause us to stumble upon great new inventions or ideas, but those are clearly the exception.

By: David Janes

David Janes — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:26:02 +0000

Excellent point Wes, but those objectives also need to be somewhat flexible. Think of the man trying to invent a new superglue at 3M and found a sticky substance that wouldn’t dry. Was he a failure? The Post-It(tm) brand would disagree. Sometimes “failure” is really a success.