There is currently nothing that reigns truer than the “Learn How You Fail” pattern in the Apprenticeship Patterns. Essentially this chapter identifies the role in which failure plays in your career development. I have often heard that failure is not something to be feared but instead embraced and this chapter mirrors that same sentiment. It offers the idea that if someone has not failed then they have actually “avoided pushing the boundaries of their abilities”.
I think this idea heavily resonates with me. I’ve learned that I need to look upon what I am doing with a realistic lens and to be able to recognize the truth in my actions and decisions. The more objectively I can view things the greater the ceiling for growth and further expand the boundaries of my abilities. The chapter puts it as “the goal is to gain self-knowledge about the patterns, conditions, habits, and behaviors that lead you to failure”.
I think that one of the major things that is hampering my success is procrastination.
For a long time, I have been “wallowing in self-pity” from the consequences of my procrastination. There has been a bit of a perspective change as of late that allows me to recognize my strengths through an accurate self-assessment all in an effort to remove the focus on the self-pity and shift it to self-improvement.
I find that from my procrastination I’ve learned how to handle my own self sabotaging self. I have seen that it is something I can improve on as I find myself having instances of being proactive, so I know that it is something that I am capable of overcoming. With consistent effort I can see myself overcoming this barrier to achieve whatever it is I want to achieve. From all my criticization of the education system it wouldn’t be without this system that has allowed me to recognize my strengths and abilities and has enabled me to look upon my weaknesses not as an impossible barrier but as something that I can overcome and climb. On the other hand, even though I can recognize this pattern within myself I learned that nothing is going to be accomplished without a disproportionate amount of time, so that is why it’s going to take consistent effort and not all be accomplished within a day. This kind of self-assessment seems very valuable and is something I actively believe I can improve on and may even somehow adopt as a core value.
From the blog CS@Worcester – Sovibol's Glass Case by Sovibol Keo and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.