Learn From The Mistakes Of Others

Whether it’s my children or my younger colleagues at work, I often find myself in situations where I notice something they’re doing could be done more effectively. My instinct is to step in and share what I’ve learned, hoping it might help them avoid some of the struggles I’ve faced. But I can see it in their expressions—sometimes it feels like they’re thinking, *“Why can’t he just let me figure this out on my own?”*  

I get it. No one likes being told what to do, and I don’t mean to come across as someone who always has an opinion on how things should be done. But here’s the thing: mistakes are not always the best teachers. The can be valuable, but they’re also costly—in time, energy, and sometimes even confidence.  

I came across this nice quote by Shane Parrish which i find very apt.

You can start at the bottom of the mountain and make every mistake from scratch on the way to the top, or you can take a sherpa with you and master the best of what other people have already figured out.

The successful learn vicariously;the foolish insist in firsthand pain.