How often do you screw up?

[Bullett00th]

Doesn't matter how, where or with whom.

Just having that moment of 'Awwwwww shit, shoudn't have done that...' or 'Should have done it way earlier' and not knowing what the consequences of your actions - or inactions - will be.

This is something I believe noone can abide with, but it happens. What do you do to help get through the consequences? Or, more importantly, the dread of waiting for them

[BrotherShamus]

This is a somewhat difficult question to answer. I screw something up just about everyday; I'm pretty sure everyone does...As far as the consequences go it depends upon how serious the situation is, but the consequences are always inevitable; can't be undone.

So, when these consequences are being inflicted upon you, you have to realize that you simply made a mistake (a reoccurring theme of humanity).

I'm not really sure whether or not this is what you had in mind. Could further unpack your question?

I'll just say that IMO no matter how serious the situation or the consequences are, a mistake is a mistake. In other words, there are varying degrees of severeness of consequences but only one degree of "mistake making"

Not sure if that helped at all...

[cckeiser]

Just remember...."The only people who do Not make mistakes are the ones who do nothing."

[Bullett00th]

Sorry BrotherShamus, can't unpack the question because it's work-related.

Surely we screw up every day, but this is an unpleasant for of a screwup when you don't know that you screwed up until MUCH later on when someone asks you 'Hey I just noticed, why didn't you [insert mistake here]?'

And you think: 'Shit. Why didn't I?'


I've found a way to cope with your everyday mistakes and turn them into experience, but something from the past is something you can't do much about :/

[Judd Dude]

Shit happens man, gotta move on from it. Least that's what I try to do when it does. I don't think crying over spilled milk does any good, though sometimes its inevitable as brother shamus discussed. Now if the same mistakes keep happening then I think there's a problem... I certainly don't go through life worrying about the next mistake though, I'd drive myself nuts thinking that way. No use in worrying about something that may not even happen, man. All you can do is what you think is right. After all were all only human.

[Rev Paddy Cakes]

I definitely agree with all of this. One thing though, and people (employers) seem to respect this. Take ownership of the fuck up. Yeah, I screwed up. How am I going to do things differently next time? How can we all do things differently? Maybe, especially with work, what we need to do isn't clear. It's all respectful and honest dialogue, isn't it?
You need to sit in that mistake like it was a really hot bath and let the pain / discomfort warsh over you ... And once you have learned from it, move on.

[meekon5]

From Deepak Chopra MD (here, How to Protect Yourself from Failure - After the Setback)

[jgiffin]

Take ownership of the fuck up. Yeah, I screwed up. How am I going to do things differently next time?

This man is a sage. It's also preferable to point out the mistake yourself and follow that with an explanation (not excuse) and recommendation. The fear is always worse than the result, itself.

I made a mistake once, back in '98, and that plan worked.

[Rev. Iconocclesiastes]

Dudes, I reckon that a person who never makes mistakes (and realizes this), is a person who never learns anything.  Education is a process, not a product.  This is my realization.

[Masked Dude]

As a former college instructor, I agree.

[Rev. Iconocclesiastes]

As a former college instructor, I agree.

And as a former research assistant, so do I.

[DigitalBuddha]

As a former beer drinker (no, sorry; current beer drinker), I agree.

[Masked Dude]

As a former beer drinker (no, sorry; current beer drinker), I agree.

It's only former until your next one.

[Hominid]

It's professional to say "My bad - I'll fix it"... and it's professional to react with respect, not belittling anyone who makes a mistake.  We all do it.  BUT - these rules change if you or the person your witnessing making the mistake has been promoted to their level of incompetency. If the pay's really good, I've seen people stick to it and leave just before they're laid off... ;-)

[DigitalBuddha]

As a former beer drinker (no, sorry; current beer drinker), I agree.

It's only former until your next one.