Error Avoidance Entropy
The Power of Positive Focus. Why "Don't Fall" Isn't the Best Advice.
Think back to when you were teaching a child to hit a baseball or ride a bike. Did you focus on what not to do? Probably not. Instead of saying, "Don't miss" or "Don't fall," you likely encouraged them to keep their eye on the ball, look ahead, and pedal steadily. There's a good reason for this approach: success isn't about avoiding failure; it's about reaching the goal.
Kids seem to grasp this concept naturally. They're less burdened with the fear of messing up. Instead, they're excited about the possibility of success. It's a mindset we adults could learn from.
Despite our children's wisdom in this regard, in many of our careers, we've flipped this script. We've become obsessed with avoiding errors. "Safety first" has become our mantra, repeated so often that we rarely consider its implications. But should safety really be our top priority in everything we do?
Now, don't get me wrong. Safety matters—a lot. But when we make it our primary focus, we're essentially telling ourselves, "don't fall" over and over. The more we aspire to perfect safety, the closer we inch toward doing nothing at all. After all, doing nothing is safest, right? But how do we get work done?
This creates a weird tension in our minds. On one hand, we're told to prioritize safety above all else. On the other, we're expected to take action and produce results. It's no wonder our outcomes sometimes fall short—we're trying to serve two masters at once.
This mindset can lead to some pretty backwards practices. For instance, it’s not uncommon for companies to reward error-free reports more than they value insightful data. But wouldn't it be better to focus on generating high-quality, accurate information that actually moves the needle? You'd still end up with few errors, but you'd also be creating real value.
Here's the thing: when we make avoiding mistakes our main goal, we tend to add less and less value over time. It's like entropy in physics—without constantly injecting energy into creating value, things naturally wind down into entropy. So, instead of pouring all our energy into not messing up, why not channel it into what actually produces results?
Next time you start a new task or project, ask yourself: "Am I more focused on creating value or avoiding mistakes?" Try to shift your mindset towards the former. It's like riding a bike—focus on where you want to go, not on the possibility of falling.
And if you're still not convinced, just ask a kid. They've got this figured out better than most of us adults do. After all, they're too busy having fun and making progress to worry about what might go wrong.
As always,
Stay humble. Hang tough.
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