Here we are in a new year so recently when I heard probably one of the best quotes for this time of year I just had to share it because it immediately rings true. As we all know, the new year is all about the perennial "clean slate" which we all frequently talk about in terms of our personal & business lives. Typically this is done by making new year's resolutions... resolutions that get broken quickly. However, listening to an interview with veteran sportswriter John Feinman, he shared a quote from one of my favorite figures in sports today, Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski [better known as Coach K].
Why Failure Can Be An Important Tool For Success
According to Feinman because Coach K learned from failure, he has become the coach with the most wins in the college game surpassing some very big names. Feinman recalled sitting in a local Denny's with the coach after a particularly bad loss early in his tenure at Duke & raised his water glass & said "here's to forgetting that game". What was Coach K's response?
"...Here's to NEVER FORGETTING that game...!!"
Why? Only by never forgetting failure can you learn from past mistakes & change the trajectory of experience in the future. Moreover, unless you pay attention to those less than stellar times, you will more likely than not, repeat the same mistakes.
In the interest of full disclosure, Ellen Gunty is a graduate of Duke University.
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