We are taught as children to colour within the lines but to find our individuality. As adults we are taught to stay in our lane but think outside the box. We are encouraged to stay the course but also to take the road less travelled. Its an ambiguity that we struggle with throughout our lives. There are pros and cons to each avenue.
In some cases, bending the rules or even breaking them can yield far better results. History has been shaped by rule breakers and some of our greatest inventions have originated by those who work outside of the norm.
“Intelligence is the ability to learn from your mistakes. Wisdom is the ability to learn from the mistakes of others.”
One of my favourite quotes is “If you always do what you always did, you always get what you always got.” Or, as they say, “Those who say it can’t be done should move out of the way of those doing it.”
Great lessons can be learned by taking risks, and can be met with great rewards but also great consequences. Professional golfer Arnold Palmer has said “Know how to win by following the rules.” And rapper Tupac Shakur says “Follow the rules or follow the fools.”
YouTube is full of videos to learn how to do things from building a fence to flying an airplane. There is an infinite wealth of information given freely by experts in their fields. Knowing the correct method of doing something is only half the battle and does not, by any means, make you an expert. Knowing how to light a fire does not teach you what to do in the event that fire gets out of control.
YouTube is also a great place to see how not to do things. Learning from other’s mistakes can be a greater learning experience. It can show how to avoid pitfalls that we may not have previously realized. And it can help mitigate personal risk without compromise.
In an industry fraught with regulations, litigation and other consequences, this is sound advice. We as an industry are governed by our ethics and we pride ourselves on our integrity. It is said that reputation is what others think or believe about you while integrity is what you know or believe about yourself. You cannot have a good reputation without first having integrity.
Now, more than ever, we live in an information age to the point of information overload. It is nearly impossible to operate today without public oversight, scrutiny, review and criticism. It is equally impossible know it all so it is in your best interest to fortify yourself with a strong foundation of knowledge, guidelines, policies, regulations and legislation so the line in the sand is clearly marked. Relying on external lessons can guide us down the right path. We now have the luxury to learn from the mistakes of others without putting ourselves in peril.
Originally published by the Council of International Investigators in their magazine, The Councilor, 2022 Q4
