As planners and designers, it’s safe to say that we want to give our best to our clients and peers. It’s a terrible thing to walk away from a situation feeling that we have let a client down or have not showcased our talents in the most polished and professional way.
Unfortunately, situations like these are bound to occur. There are many twists and turns (and potholes) on the road to success. This means it’s inevitable that we will lose direction, take wrong turns, and stumble at times. There will be days when we feel we have seized every moment, those when we are just feeling “off,” and those when we give our all and still walk away knowing we could have done better.
Being that most artists are perfectionists in one way or another, missteps can often leave lasting stings. Worse, we can get so caught up in focusing on what went wrong that we forget to note the lesson: in making the mistake, we learned what not to do next time.
This valuable information can be used in two different ways:
1. We can dwell and use it as “proof” that we are not as talented or capable as we would like to be.
2. We can accept responsibility for our actions, make any amends that are necessary, and commit to doing better next time.
Over the course of my 30-year career, I have chosen to funnel the information both ways. What time and experience has taught me is that mistakes can be setbacks or they can propel you forward by helping you polish your skills and move forward a better version of yourself.
Today, dear readers, I would like to ask you to share what lessons you have learned from your mistakes and how those lessons have made you stronger, wiser and more successful.
Blessings,
Preston
(Photo courtesy of Share My Garden)
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George Bernard Shaw once said: “You see things and say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” That quote embodies how Preston Bailey approaches every event.
Navjot Kaur
August 9, 2012
I agree that each mistake that one make can help you propel you forward and it can also trun the other way around. Many a time, I have seen justifying their mistakes by saying that it could have been worse yet the reality is that possibilty of improving the next time is lost in the such perception. We are humans and we are bound to makes mistakes and I personally take these as opportunities.
Jameel
August 9, 2012
Even if a client is not aware of a mistake I made, It still bothers me, and I think about how I could have avoided a situation or done better. As a result I am more professional with every new client and I deliver a better product. I am always looking for ways to improve myself and my craft.
Thank you for your post.
Chantelle
August 13, 2012
I smiled when I read this one – I work alone doing wedding flowers, handmade jewellery and decor and as such rely on every job – whether it goes perfectly or not – to be my next lesson. I am in the habit of coming back after a wedding and making notes of what went well, how I can setup/do things better and what mistakes I made, as there are always new things to learn. This industry is always changing and if I don’t consciously approach my work as a student, ready to learn, I will be left behind in no time. A challenge, but one that creates character and grows new skills!
Stephanie
August 13, 2012
First, we were learning how to better organize, then we learned we do too much for what we charge. Now, we’re in the process of increasing our prices. I was really afraid of raising our rates, but it seems we have MORE potential clients than ever before!
Bella Eventi by Olivia George
August 15, 2012
Thank you for writing this Preston. Sometimes I am on fire and having an amazing time on the path to my business success. Other times, it’s a challenge that makes me question things. There is nothing better though than achieving greater than the bride’s expectations. Good to know even the best (you!) can feel what I feel. xo