virgin islands scene

The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything.
-- Theodore Roosevelt
 

 

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Dealing with mistakes

What’s the best course to follow when you’ve made a mistake? Admit it, correct it, apologize for it, learn from it and get on with life.

Everybody makes mistakes, and most people understand that mistakes happen. Even those who expect the very best in every interaction do not expect perfection every moment of every day from every person.

If you try to cover up a mistake, or deny it, you make it ten times worse. Eventually, the truth always comes out, and when it does you want to make sure you’ve consistently been in agreement with that truth.

The way you handle a mistake, whether your own or someone else’s, shines a bright light on your true character. It can in fact be an opportunity to demonstrate how much you care and how capable you are.

Aim for perfection, but don’t pretend you are perfect. Give every effort your best, and don’t be afraid to admit when you’ve fallen short.

When you quickly admit a mistake and then make it right, you show how authentic and honest you are. And those are two excellent qualities to be known for.

— Ralph Marston

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