Building block

Why do people write history? Why are the events and biographies recorded? Is it because they make a good read and will sell many books?

History’s primary purpose is to teach curious minds to learn from others’ experiences, failures, and successes, and not fail.

Some say that failures teach us a lot. Several people have written on the virtues of failure—it builds character, a necessary path to more tremendous success, and so on.

Do not believe it. Just ignore it. 

If we try to learn everything by experiencing it, then one life may not be enough. You can learn from other people’s failures but have no reason to embrace them. Other people’s flops belong to them, not you.

If other people cannot protect their customer base, it is not your shortcoming. You have nothing to do with it. If other people cannot negotiate skillfully, it is their deficiency. If other people cannot move fast enough to adapt to new technologies …it is their problem.

Another cliché is “learn from your mistakes.” It has limited value. The only thing it tells us is what not to do again. It does not show you what the best next step is or what to do next. 

How about learning from your or others’ successes?

Now that is of real value. It tells you what works, and you can build on it by doing it again. In fact, you will most likely do it better the next time.   

Focus on what works, the triumphs. You build upon your winners and not failures. Success is the best building block.

Coming Soon — Starters Playbook