Do Not Shrink from Your Mistakes

“Winners have made the most mistakes.” -Coach Thomas and Coach Kerns

As I search through quotes from Coach Thomas and Coach Kerns, every once in a while I reflect on the theme of all the quotes and sometimes one sticks out more than the others. The theme of the quotes varies, but essentially, they are focused on principles that lead one to eliminate barriers to performance and focus on what makes one a winner in life and on the field. Coach Thomas and Coach Kerns adhered to the belief that when one is a winner in life it will translate to the field. Not only do the principles gleaned from their methods assist in our short athletic careers, but they endure to every season and phase of life.

Were these principles and themes always present in their lives? Were they as flawless as the tribute to them suggests? The answer is certainly no, but, I can say with confidence that each worked hard to emulate and internalize the message that they brought to their players. Did they make mistakes…absolutely. Were they winners…absolutely.

So, the quote above seems to present a disconnected thought. A winner does everything right. A winner is free from mistakes or makes less of them. How then can a winner make the most mistakes?

I believe the great wisdom in this quote also hits on a common theme of the quotes we explore here. It connotes an absence of fear and the ability to learn from mistakes. Coach recognized that fear paralyzes us and prevents us from pushing beyond self-imposed barriers. Much of his time was devoted to pushing beyond mental and physical limitations with the net result being a maximization of output for the individual and the team. Reconciling oneself to the possibility of a mistake and working to eliminate the same mistake in the next attempt leads to growth and ultimately a winning effort.

Winners, however you define that attribute, are never afraid to make a mistake. They act with conviction and if mistakes are made, they do not shrink from the task, but push forward to achieve the goal in spite of the mistake. Winners put themselves on the front line and take tasks head on. Winners are not defeated by mistakes, but instead, learn a lesson and consider them only minor setbacks in the ultimate game.

Are you afraid to make a mistake, or do you consider yourself a loser because of the amount and frequency of mistakes you have made? The good news is that any study of history or scripture reveals that our greatest heroes, our greatest winners, have in common a lifetime of mistakes. How many mistakes did Edison make before he invented the light bulb? How many formulas failed before Einstein developed the theory of relativity? Moses murdered an Egyptian and lived in exile before being called to lead God’s people out of the desert.

Do not shrink from your mistakes, even a lifetime full of them. Do not be paralyzed by fear, but fiercely pursue your goals and move forward in confidence that your mistakes have and will make you better. Stay committed, stay focused, and enjoy the journey.