virgin islands scene

Speech is conveniently located midway between thought and action, where it often substitutes for both.
-- John Andrew Holmes
 

 

Friday, June 27, 2025

Before mistakes happen

The best time to identify mistakes is before they happen. Potential mistakes are much easier to solve than actual mistakes.

Once a mistake has been made, someone owns that mistake. Just the simple act of pointing out the mistake can cause resentment, even if it’s your own.

In contemplating your actions, put in the extra effort to identify what might go wrong. In evaluating the intentions of others, respectfully speak up when you see a potential problem, and be prepared to explain it in detail.

Mistakes are sure to result in confrontations. Those confrontations go much better before the mistake is made rather than afterwards.

Avoid the spectacle of blaming and defending past actions. Whether with yourself or with others, seek to hash it out beforehand when there’s a lot less on the line.

Some mistakes are inevitable, yet many are preventable. Do all you can to see those before they happen, when they cost a whole lot less to fix.

— Ralph Marston

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