“Failure isn’t fatal, but failure to change might be.” - John Wooden
It’s a simple fact of life that things don’t always go according to plan. Of course, if you fear failure to the point that you never take risks, you will neither grow nor progress. In the complex and ever-changing landscape of the efficiency industry, you must take risks and be flexible to succeed.
In his book Adapt: Why Success Always Starts with Failure, Tim Harford argues that survival in business requires a willingness to adapt. He emphasizes the fact that all levels of an organization must respond to change in order for change to take place, and that trust among colleagues helps reduce the risk of failure in the wake of change. If you find that fear of failure holds you back, I highly recommend reading this insightful book.
Here’s a summary from Amazon Books:
“In this groundbreaking book, Tim Harford, the Undercover Economist, shows us a new and inspiring approach to solving the most pressing problems in our lives. When faced with complex situations, we have all become accustomed to looking to our leaders to set out a plan of action and blaze a path to success. Harford argues that today’s challenges simply cannot be tackled with ready-made solutions and expert opinion; the world has become far too unpredictable and profoundly complex. Instead, we must adapt.
“Deftly weaving together psychology, evolutionary biology, anthropology, physics, and economics, along with the compelling story of hard-won lessons learned in the field, Harford makes a passionate case for the importance of adaptive trial and error in tackling issues such as climate change, poverty, and financial crises – as well as in fostering innovation and creativity in our business and personal lives.
“Taking us from corporate boardrooms to the deserts of Iraq, Adapt clearly explains the necessary ingredients for turning failure into success. It is a breakthrough handbook for surviving – and prospering – in our complex and ever-shifting world.”
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