Every Tuesday I search the headlines as well as the depths of my own personal life to try and find a soothing story to salve the soul.
The tools to succeed. How many times have you heard a parent, a boss, a friend, a social worker say they want to give someone the tools to succeed? It is true that if we teach a man to fish he is far better off than if we just feed him everyday; however, what if one day he fails to catch anything despite his best efforts? Are we then to let him starve?
You see giving someone the tools to succeed only fulfills one side of the equation; we must also give them the freedom to fail. We must allow them to feel the fresh air of freedom on their face or else they will never be truly successful. If someone is not given the freedom to fall down than they will only try that which they know they can do well and nothing else. They will never reach out beyond a set comfort zone to try something new, something they may not do very well. They have no freedom.
So, parents, friends, managers: give someone the freedom to fail. Let them know that all you expect is their very best and you will still be there for them no matter what the outcome; who knows, they may just surprise you.
