Experience it

Experience is a wonderful teacher. however, make sure that experience doesn't become an excuse for lack of change.

Far too many people use the status quo as a crutch. "That's the way we've always done it. Why should we bother to change when it works?" Yes, we can and should learn from our mistakes, but it's equally important not to be so afraid of making future mistakes that we never make any changes or improvements.

Your experience should be used as a guidepost, not a hitching post. Don't allow experiences to cause fear. Use it as a source of strength. There's almost always a better way to get a job done and with your experience, it's your responsibility to find that way. Be innovative. Be original. Be daring.

Mark Twain probably explained it best, "We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it – and stop there; least we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stove lid. She will never sit down on a hot stove lid again – and that is well, but also, she will never sit down on a cold one anymore."

Make your experience the starting point of your learning process, not the end.

Article originally appeared in Capespan Courier August 08 – see www.capespan.com

Written and edited by Mariette Greyling, www.tomar.co.za