Trial and Error – two close companions that are inseparable. Trial is the younger of the two and loves to experiment with new ideas. He is sometimes impetuous and may be unaware of the problems that could arise from his decisions. Error on the other hand is often simply standing by as the older and wiser of the two to either clean up the mess or wag his finger and say, “See, I told you it wouldn’t work!”
But Trial rarely pays attention to Error unless it is to simply figure out a new way to do something.
There are times when Trial finds success, and when he does Error doesn’t want to talk about it (being the pessimist he is).
What Error doesn’t know is that he is providing instruction to Trial simply by pointing out mistakes.
Trial and Error can be found in every moneymaking idea I’ve ever encountered. I have not found a 100% foolproof method for developing a business that does not encounter problems while providing an answer to every conceivable dilemma.
Embrace these two companions as dear friends. They are filled with adventure and discovery. One wonders, “What if?” while the other says, “Well, that didn’t go very well.”
Even the best of ideas were the result of puzzle pieces that were tried and left to the side looking for just the right piece.
The problem is most people are afraid of Trial and Error. Most are much more comfortable with Safe and Secure and they will do almost anything to keep them around while keeping Trial and Error locked outside. The Safe and Secure within all of us want a 1,000 puzzle piece problem to go together without effort.
The feeling seems to be, “If I can just live my life without risk then maybe nothing has to change.”
One thing I know about change is it will happen. One thing I know about life is there will always be some sort of risk. One thing I know about mankind is there is something incredibly stimulating about adventure.
Some may say they don’t want risk, but somewhere deep inside there will always be that nagging question of “What if…”
I encountered a guy a few years ago. He saw that I was moving forward with an idea and said, “You know I had the chance to move to Louisiana twenty years ago for a better job. I often wonder what my life would be like now if I had gone.”
There was regret in his voice and on his face. He had a chance at Trial and Error, but Safe and Secure persuaded him to do nothing. The place he found himself left him without the feeling that he could succeed beyond the dead-end job he had worked at for more than twenty years.
Safe can feel like a prison.
Trial and Error may not always get along, but they always arrive together. And as much as you might want them to get along they are encouraging each other to better things in their own contentious way.
You need to keep company with Trial and Error. This dynamic duo can help you gain the courage you need to take your moneymaking idea and find a way to make it work.