I recently listed to Brene with Abby Wambach on the New Rules of Leadership during which they discuss Abby’s new book WOLFPACK: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power, and Change the Game. While I enjoyed hearing all “8 ways to change the game,” this is the one that resonated with me the most. I feel like the old rule describes the legal profession to a T, and it’s not doing us any favors. I often hear criticism about doing things differently from people in the profession who aren’t “in the game.” My guess is that you do too because doing things differently is what this community is all about.
We need a new rule when it comes to failure, and I propose we adopt Abby’s. If you’re not experimenting and failing and learning and growing, you’re not even “in the game” or “in the arena” (see the Theodore Roosevelt quote below) to start with. You’re sitting outside of the arena hoping your perfectionism will get you to where you want to be. I think you will eventually be disappointed though and that’s why I challenge you to leave your perfectionism at home and join us in the game!
Does this new rule resonate with you? If so, share it with a colleague who needs to hear it!
