Maeda's SIMPLICITY

setup for failure = setup for success

This week I've wondered about the commonly used phrase of "to be setup for failure." It seems unlikely that such a situation could exist in any organization, because each individual's worth means so much more when they succeed. So why would anyone or any project be "setup for failure"? I then began to think about what conditions might constitute being "setup for success." For some reason, the latter case sounds great! However it is indeed harder to imagine happening than the former. Perhaps it is the lower probability that one might be "setup for success" versus being "setup for failure" that makes most people feel suspiciously setup for failure.

I am a sincere believer in the idea that miscommunication and mistakes are evidence that you are doing something. Especially when you are doing both. Doing something right is highly unlikely. Thus doing something wrong is almost usually guaranteed. If you don't do anything at all, in the short term you win because you do nothing wrong. Which immediately looks better as compared to the person that's messing up all the time because they're trying to get something done for the first time.

Let's consider the conditions for being "setup for success." You are presented with all the money you need, all the support from the people around you, and all the opportunities for you to mine. Having an infinite pile of money is highly unlikely; people around you usually have their own lives, so it's unlikely that their devotion will be infinite; finding the right opportunity, however, is slightly more probable if you don't give up trying to hit at the right moment. So you fail for trying. And hope to get lucky.

Having good luck is proof that you're iterating over and over and over and because you're failing so much, your potential for success increases. But failure usually results in a state of depression that can easily knock ourselves out of the running. For this reason we need thicker skin. We cultivate our tolerance for failure through the upsides in life of good family, good friends, good food, good ideas.

I think the key to maintaining "thicker skin" is by having a full stomach/full mind which is something I too often forget. For that reason, I write my various thoughts here. And I find it interesting how I might be giving a lecture somewhere in the world, and a person in the audience will have remembered for me what I wrote here. Thicker skin. Global mind. More failure. Maybe a little more success because you tried.

Being setup for failure is to be setup for success. This week I plan to rejoice in my various failed trials and actions. I hope your week goes just as well for you too.