Welcome failure
As mentioned in the previous chapter, experimentation involves failure and many great innovations have resulted from experiments which ‘failed’. Yet the word failure carries many negative connotations. In our society we applaud success and disdain failure. The lateral thinker has to turn this notion upside down. They should welcome failure and be wary of success. Failure is an essential part of the exploration and trial of new ideas, whereas success can breed complacency, self-satisfaction and aversion to risk.
Why does Rafael Nadal (or any other great tennis player) serve double faults? Every double fault is a failure – it gives a precious point to his opponent. He could easily cut out all double faults by slowing down his ...
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