by Richard Martin
Copyright: faithie | 123RF Stock Photo
There are an infinite number of ways to be wrong, but only one way to be right. Trial and error is the process of evolution, science, business and innovation. We produce many more “errors” than “successes,” so we must continually experiment with new ways of doing things.
Readiness is the product of this trial and error process. If we continually are working to improve our understanding of our surroundings and what will work to get us to our goals, then we can’t help but adapt to the constantly changing conditions by mitigating threats, and exploiting gaps and opportunities.
I like to think I’m in illustrious company, as shown by this sampling of aphorisms and quotes. I’m particularly fond of the approach of the great philosopher Karl Popper.
“Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.” Oscar Wilde
“What is today called ‘negative feed back’ is only an application of the general method of learning from our mistakes-the method of trial and error.” Karl Popper
“The first principle is that you must not fool yourself-and you are the easiest person to fool.” Richard Feynman
“Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.” Philip K. Dick
“Our whole problem is to make the mistakes as fast as possible…” John A. Wheeler
“Criticism of our conjectures is of decisive importance: by bringing out our mistakes it makes us understand the difficulties of the problem which we are trying to solve.” Karl Popper
“All our knowledge grows only through the correcting of our mistakes.” Karl Popper
“The more we learn about the world, and the deeper our learning, the more conscious, specific, and articulate will be our knowledge of what we do not know, our knowledge of our ignorance. For this, indeed, is the main source of our ignorance – the fact that our knowledge can be only finite, while our ignorance must necessarily be infinite.” Karl Popper
© 2017 Alcera Consulting Inc. This article may be used for non-commercial use with proper attribution.
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