We learn through our experiences of success as well as failures. Last week we already discussed how one can learn from success.
This week, let's take a look at how one can learn through things gone wrong.

LEARNING FROM MISTAKES

When you blame others or ignore and conceal mistakes, you miss out on the opportunity to learn from your mistake.
The lesson begins by simply understanding what happened and figuring out what went wrong.

Dust yourself off.
No one is perfect. No one wins all the time. Be resilient because when you push the edge, you are bound to fall.
Don't hesitate to get up and keep playing.

Look at the situation.
Some efforts will fail due to factors outside your control. A system view can help you determine what is realistically in your control and what isn't.

* What factors were outside my control? Be objective so you don't avoid responsibility where it truly applies.
* How could I have anticipated those factors or worked around them?
* How can I influence those factors so they don't get in the way?

Own your share.
Assume that there are enough things under your control that changing your behavior could clearly produce better results.

* Did I prepare and practice enough?
* Did I utilize the resources and people who could help?
* Did I set realistic goals and expectations?
* What do I need to learn before I try this again?
* Have I had a similar problem before?

I'm sure you haven't had many mistakes to learn from, but maybe you can learn from the few you have made.