Nikki Giovanni is an American poet, writer and civil rights advocate. She once said something worth considering.
“Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to error that counts.”
Someone else’s mistake will land on your plate this week. Maybe it already has.
It will cost you time. Maybe money. Maybe a client, a deal or a customer. Or just some grey hair.
However, here’s the part that actually matters. The mistake itself was never the interesting bit. What you do next is.
Most people reach for blame first. It feels like action. It isn’t. It just delays the real work and makes the other person defensive instead of useful.
My first move is usually to get moving, literally. Pacing or a walk clears more than my head. It gets the frustration out of my chest before it comes out of my mouth. The Swearing Project has helped me a lot here. It’s changed the game for me in fact.
Once the emotion has been dealt with, I ask the only question that matters.
How do I fix the system so this doesn’t happen again?
Not who did this. Not how do I make sure they know I’m annoyed. Just, what broke, and what needs to change so it can’t break the same way twice.
That question is the difference between a mistake that costs you once and one that costs you every month after.
Keep in mind the error was never optional. But your response always is.
This Week’s Motivator
Mistakes are guaranteed. Repeats are optional.
Blame delays. Systems prevent.
Prompt for the Week
Next time someone else’s mistake lands on you, notice your first move before you even think about it. What’s one system you could tighten this week so it can’t happen the same way twice?
