Comments on: On failing well http://www.studionontroppo.com/2009/03/on-failing-well/ Embrace the Learning Curve Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:03:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Shelly http://www.studionontroppo.com/2009/03/on-failing-well/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Shelly Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:13:43 +0000 http://www.studionontroppo.com/?p=150#comment-20 This is such a great perspective. The prospect of failure is a brick wall in the way of trying new things. But looking at an enterprise as a wonderful experiment where you're not betting it all on one go - that turns failure into a way to fine-tune, to risk just a little. What's the worst that could happen? p.s. I kinda want that plant song list. This is such a great perspective. The prospect of failure is a brick wall in the way of trying new things. But looking at an enterprise as a wonderful experiment where you’re not betting it all on one go – that turns failure into a way to fine-tune, to risk just a little. What’s the worst that could happen?
p.s. I kinda want that plant song list.

]]> By: doug http://www.studionontroppo.com/2009/03/on-failing-well/comment-page-1/#comment-17 doug Sat, 07 Mar 2009 19:38:51 +0000 http://www.studionontroppo.com/?p=150#comment-17 <strong><font color='blue'>Andy:</font></strong> Thank you for the examples. I think of a young whipper-snapper striking out in a little league game. It is SO hard (even with supportive people around) for the batter to experience this in a positive way. When you see with perspective, then perspective seems natural. When you're not seeing with perspective, it seems very hard to get to a place where you could. This reminds me of "trying to be patient" while waiting in line. If you're really patient, you don't have to try to be patient, because the wait isn't a problem. <strong><font color='blue'>Bhavna:</font></strong> Thank you for sharing your experience (and experiences). Knowing what we "should" do doesn't make it easier to forge ahead, but you point to the importance of "going ahead anyway, in spite of worries and fears." And because you do move ahead, it is easy to see that you are an artist (rather than a could-be artist)! Andy: Thank you for the examples. I think of a young whipper-snapper striking out in a little league game. It is SO hard (even with supportive people around) for the batter to experience this in a positive way. When you see with perspective, then perspective seems natural. When you’re not seeing with perspective, it seems very hard to get to a place where you could.

This reminds me of “trying to be patient” while waiting in line. If you’re really patient, you don’t have to try to be patient, because the wait isn’t a problem.

Bhavna: Thank you for sharing your experience (and experiences). Knowing what we “should” do doesn’t make it easier to forge ahead, but you point to the importance of “going ahead anyway, in spite of worries and fears.” And because you do move ahead, it is easy to see that you are an artist (rather than a could-be artist)!

]]> By: Bhavna http://www.studionontroppo.com/2009/03/on-failing-well/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Bhavna Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:14:13 +0000 http://www.studionontroppo.com/?p=150#comment-16 Doug - I really enjoyed your example of the songs that plants adore. Its a lovely way to get to a discussion about failing well. Last weekend I had a day of failures in the studio and thought I should really have more of these days so when they do happen, its not such a big deal. It seems that failures in any kind of creative work can keep you going because they lead to new ideas almost immediately. Even though I know this academically there is no replacement for the feeling that you get when your failure opens up a bunch of new doors - each one going to a new possibility. Also I have had this experience in creative writing lately - a thought will be brewing in my head and until I put it in the computer or on paper, there seem to be no fresh words to further the story. Almost as if the brain can hold only so much and until that is exercised - it cannot go any further. Once I write down a story I can suddenly think of a new character or a plot twist or some fresh dialog - even if most of the initial writing eventually gets trashed. Doug – I really enjoyed your example of the songs that plants adore. Its a lovely way to get to a discussion about failing well.

Last weekend I had a day of failures in the studio and thought I should really have more of these days so when they do happen, its not such a big deal. It seems that failures in any kind of creative work can keep you going because they lead to new ideas almost immediately. Even though I know this academically there is no replacement for the feeling that you get when your failure opens up a bunch of new doors – each one going to a new possibility.

Also I have had this experience in creative writing lately – a thought will be brewing in my head and until I put it in the computer or on paper, there seem to be no fresh words to further the story. Almost as if the brain can hold only so much and until that is exercised – it cannot go any further. Once I write down a story I can suddenly think of a new character or a plot twist or some fresh dialog – even if most of the initial writing eventually gets trashed.

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