“Mistakes are the usual bridge between inexperience and wisdom.” ~ Phyllis Theroux
In this year of new beginnings I’ve been thinking a lot about eradicating fear. The most wonderful thing about having a beginner’s mind is that it gives us the space and the freedom to experiment. We aren’t trying to be perfectionists or people who get it right. We’re playing, and in play, mistakes are welcome and expected.
The idea behind Phyllis Theroux’s quote concentrates on the utility and prevalence of mistakes. They take us from a place of ignorance to a place of knowledge. Last week I heard someone give a presentation in which one of his team’s annual goals is to “build a culture intolerant of defects.” My gut reaction to that language made me want to hide under the table or run out of the room. “That’s what’s wrong with his company,” I thought to myself. “Mistakes are not expected, accepted, or even allowed. No wonder there’s very little innovation here! People are too scared of being cast out to even try to do anything new.” And as a side note, there’s also very little wisdom in his company.
I thought about writing the speaker an anonymous note with Theroux’s quote on it and sending it off to him. The sad part is I really feel that once someone is that far gone down the path to perfection, there’s very little hope of pulling him back to reality until there is a burning platform underneath him. Instead, I’m going to show by example that if we can have even a hint of acceptance, or dare I say celebration!, of mistakes then all of a sudden the creativity really gets juiced up, the culture opens, and inertia of innovation can’t be stopped.
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Published by Christa Avampato
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
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“Mistakes are the usual bridge between inexperience and wisdom.” ~ Phyllis Theroux 
Christa Avampato 
i’ve worked in places with that culture. it’s a macho mindset. detached from the way of the world.
no tolerance for failure means no risks means no change means no upside means … extinction!
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It’s such a draining kind of culture to be a part of, and I feel badly for the team there. They feel paralyzed which will mean 1 of 2 things: they’ll stay and growing more unhappy or they’rell leave for greener pastures! I hope it’s the latter.
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It’s all about learning and growing — without mistakes we really can’t get to the next level or plan in life…whatever it may be. Great quote!
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Ain’t that the truth! Without learning and growing, what’s the point right? Hope is everything in beautiful Canada?
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