“Make original mistakes.”
Someone (Brad? Wendy? I can’t remember) said this in a board meeting about a month
ago. I wrote it down on a piece of paper
and have been carrying it around with me ever since. The concept is right on
and meaningful no matter what you do. For me it is a reminder of two important things:
First, we all have mentors and peer groups. As a venture capitalist, for example, I have
the partners and principals at my firm; I have partners at other venture firms
with whom I have worked with closely; I have the CEO’s and executives at the
companies I work with; etc.. These are
great resources for me to tap when I’m faced with challenges. Whether you work for a venture backed
company, a large organization or a non-profit you there are people you can turn
to for advice and counsel.
Second, don’t be afraid to share your challenges with
others. It’s only natural to celebrate
our successes and dig in and think harder about where we’re coming up
short. By all means, share the good
news; but also share the not-so-good news and the challenges. Share them with your board, share them with
your peers, share them across your executive team. Ask for help. Find people who have faced similar challenges.
A corollary to this could be, if you do make a mistake......make sure it is a big one!
Posted by: Josh Kerbel | May 24, 2005 at 05:58 PM