I really related to this piece!! Growing up, my mom would tell me "this is just a glitch, not a catastrophe!". I tried many different things and when it didn't work out, once again, my mom would tell me "if you hadn't tried, you would never have known. Now learn from the mistake and move on." She was my rock, the one I ran to whenever I had fallen on my face. She never judged me for what I had done, instead she used her wisdom to direct me on how to move forward. Because of my mom's strong words, I have tackled my world, lived it and made so very many mistakes. Each time, I learned a little bit more (I believe it is called common sense or wisdom born from life's hard knocks) and I would move forward. Today, at 71, I look back and I have to laugh at some of the colossal blunders I made, but I also look at the really great achievements! Even though I have learned a lot from my failures and accomplishments, the most important thing I know is that your children are going to make their own mistakes even though you could have prevented their epic mishaps! That is as it should be. Thanks, Mr. Reich!
Thank you, Professor, for the well timed article. I had a pretty spectacular failure today, and I was going through the third phase of being angry with myself. I've gone through some major failures in the past, but this one hit home because it had to do with my integrity. I hope, as you say, I learn from this experience (oh, believe me...I have) and be a better me going forward. It's funny that even at my age, I still have many things to learn and am still trying to be a better person.
I really like "noble experiments". It's such a positive that most take as a negative. Wisdom! My dad always said to me "I don't care how many mistakes you make, as long as you learn something from each one". The best advice I've ever received from anyone. I hope your words hit someones ears as my dad's hit mine. You are so appreciated!
It is a shame that others (family members in particular) point out our failures and compare themselves to us. Shaming is an awful thing. Especially when we have bettered ourselves & improved our own lives — so I would like to point out just how hurtful our own siblings can be — even later in life.
It takes a very unhappy person to do this throughout their lives to their sister.
Thank you for this piece — you are not a failure at all and I admire you greatly.
I agree wholeheartedly! I am a retired physicist with 50 years of a whole host of experiences. Failure ultimately leads tó many successes as long as you are persistent, the key is believeing in your self!
Like nearly everything in life, it's all about perspective, isn't it? And expectations. As I look back on my life, I become more aware of the truth of the expression, "Careful what you wish for...you might get it." Failures very often lead to success, and closed doors open others. And most of the time, "failures" are the inevitable result of chance and things beyond our control. Being in the fight is what counts the most.
Years ago I read a biography of Madame Curie. One big take-away for me was that she didn't mind how many of your experiments failed. What she really didn't like was if you made careless errors. That concept has stayed on my mind ever since.
But the failure was “Bill” Clinton’s. He happily adopted the greed of the capitalists at Goldman Sachs who wanted to change the distribution of income in their favor
You are an inspiration, Robert Reich. Your clarity in communicating, your forthrightness, and your humanity shine through. I admire you greatly, and have for years. Thank you for the note. It's fortifying and very helpful. Gratefully, Goyo Max
Thanks for this--it's a great reminder of the value of trying to do something despite one's fear of failing, and I appreciate your frankness. While I've tackled many challenges (and failed many times), my sometimes regrets are about some of the other things that I did not do because of "Fear", fear of failure, fear of disapproval, fear of ridicule. Living a life that gets overly directed by fear is tragic.
Failure is a big part of life. Everyone will make mistakes. But the best people will learn from them and try not to make the same mistakes again. The FPOTUS never learned to be humble and admit mistakes. “It was a perfect phone call to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the phone call to Brad Raffensperger was even more perfect “
I really related to this piece!! Growing up, my mom would tell me "this is just a glitch, not a catastrophe!". I tried many different things and when it didn't work out, once again, my mom would tell me "if you hadn't tried, you would never have known. Now learn from the mistake and move on." She was my rock, the one I ran to whenever I had fallen on my face. She never judged me for what I had done, instead she used her wisdom to direct me on how to move forward. Because of my mom's strong words, I have tackled my world, lived it and made so very many mistakes. Each time, I learned a little bit more (I believe it is called common sense or wisdom born from life's hard knocks) and I would move forward. Today, at 71, I look back and I have to laugh at some of the colossal blunders I made, but I also look at the really great achievements! Even though I have learned a lot from my failures and accomplishments, the most important thing I know is that your children are going to make their own mistakes even though you could have prevented their epic mishaps! That is as it should be. Thanks, Mr. Reich!
Mr. Reich you just nailed it!
But what’s so bad about falling on your face? At worst, you may break your nose, which is better than trying nothing in order to save face. 🙏❣️
You are definitely not a failure where it counts.
Thank you, Professor, for the well timed article. I had a pretty spectacular failure today, and I was going through the third phase of being angry with myself. I've gone through some major failures in the past, but this one hit home because it had to do with my integrity. I hope, as you say, I learn from this experience (oh, believe me...I have) and be a better me going forward. It's funny that even at my age, I still have many things to learn and am still trying to be a better person.
I really like "noble experiments". It's such a positive that most take as a negative. Wisdom! My dad always said to me "I don't care how many mistakes you make, as long as you learn something from each one". The best advice I've ever received from anyone. I hope your words hit someones ears as my dad's hit mine. You are so appreciated!
Wise Words, Professor.
It is a shame that others (family members in particular) point out our failures and compare themselves to us. Shaming is an awful thing. Especially when we have bettered ourselves & improved our own lives — so I would like to point out just how hurtful our own siblings can be — even later in life.
It takes a very unhappy person to do this throughout their lives to their sister.
Thank you for this piece — you are not a failure at all and I admire you greatly.
Your friend in MD
🌻🙏💙
I agree wholeheartedly! I am a retired physicist with 50 years of a whole host of experiences. Failure ultimately leads tó many successes as long as you are persistent, the key is believeing in your self!
Like nearly everything in life, it's all about perspective, isn't it? And expectations. As I look back on my life, I become more aware of the truth of the expression, "Careful what you wish for...you might get it." Failures very often lead to success, and closed doors open others. And most of the time, "failures" are the inevitable result of chance and things beyond our control. Being in the fight is what counts the most.
Years ago I read a biography of Madame Curie. One big take-away for me was that she didn't mind how many of your experiments failed. What she really didn't like was if you made careless errors. That concept has stayed on my mind ever since.
“Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.” - Winston Churchill
Wonderful
But the failure was “Bill” Clinton’s. He happily adopted the greed of the capitalists at Goldman Sachs who wanted to change the distribution of income in their favor
You are an inspiration, Robert Reich. Your clarity in communicating, your forthrightness, and your humanity shine through. I admire you greatly, and have for years. Thank you for the note. It's fortifying and very helpful. Gratefully, Goyo Max
Thanks for this--it's a great reminder of the value of trying to do something despite one's fear of failing, and I appreciate your frankness. While I've tackled many challenges (and failed many times), my sometimes regrets are about some of the other things that I did not do because of "Fear", fear of failure, fear of disapproval, fear of ridicule. Living a life that gets overly directed by fear is tragic.
There are so many people who think making lots of money is success, when they really can be a failure with lots of money.
Bouncing back may take as much luck as succeeding in the first place. So good luck to everyone who needs it (including myself).
Failure is a big part of life. Everyone will make mistakes. But the best people will learn from them and try not to make the same mistakes again. The FPOTUS never learned to be humble and admit mistakes. “It was a perfect phone call to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the phone call to Brad Raffensperger was even more perfect “
I always thought perfect was an absolute