MISTAKES… don’t be afraid to make them.

The Guided Missile Principle

It has often been said that “the most dangerous thing you can do – is do nothing” and that applies to all aspects of life, personal and business.

The fear of failure, or the very fear of fear itself can be held up as the one of the most crippling afflictions known to humankind, and it is that which causes many of us to “do nothing”.

This fear of failure applies to most people some of the time, a few all of the time, and some not at all. We all know a handful of those rare individuals who seem never to have a care, who boldly go at life full on, seemingly not caring if they muck things up. And they do make mistakes sure, but secretly perhaps we envy them and the success that most of them seem to attract.

Secretly also, we perhaps fell a little smug satisfaction when they take a tumble and fall on their behinds. Strange though, none of them seem to stay down very long before they are up and running again. Think of those people you know who fit this category and I defy you to say that there isn’t a large hunk of envy caught in the back of your throat.

How do they do it?

In my experience, most of these “starts” are like guided missiles. They have a target locked into their internal guidance systems and they set off to hit it. What most people don’t realise is that a guided missile doesn’t just head off to its target in a smooth flight. In fact, the missile can only hit the bullseye by making hundreds, perhaps thousands of mistakes and continually correcting them during its flight path. That’s how it is done, and the principle can be applied to ourselves.

Set your goals and blast off. As you proceed along the pathway you will make mistakes, that’s only human. Correct them as you go and forge ahead. Eventually you will reach your goal.

If you fear making mistakes, just ask yourself “what is the worst that can happen? Inevitably the reality is far less than your imaginings. Happy rocketeering.

Grant Shanks

Grant Shanks is a Rangiora-based freelance writer, author and advertising and marketing creative director. Author of ten books, four factual titles written under his given name and four written under his pen name of Andrew Grant, including New Zealand best-seller, Hawks. Grant was in Singapore recently for the release of his latest Andrew Grant thriller, Death in the Kingdom, set in Thailand. The book will be released in New Zealand later in the year. A Singapore-based film production company is currently negotiating first film right options.