Monday, February 5, 2024

Mistakes Allowed

Goa based, Ethernet Foundation organised its first edition of VAA! – Vivekananda Angel Awards on 2 February, birth anniversary (as per Hindu calendar) of Swami Vivekananda. The inaugural award was conferred upon Rudolf Schwartz, Goa’s guardian angel from Germany.

 

77 year old, Rudolf facilitated skill development of underserved students through his initiative:Indian Students Educational Aid Foundation which now runs 3 technical training schools, an Open School, a Nursing Bureau besides providing scholarships to over 3000 students for higher education.

 

He was 44 when he set off on his mission. He paid from his pocket for multiple trips to Goa to follow up with the local team. He convinced over 500 active sponsors from Germany. His consistent efforts bore fruit because he and his team believed that ‘it is allowed to make mistakes’. 

 

Many of us believe that errors are unforgivable blunders, fostering a culture of fear and stagnation. Mistakes are learning experiences. We must shift focus from the mistake itself to the decision-making process that led to it. We must understand that not all decisions will yield the desired outcome. 

 

Decision-making is primarily an act aimed at an uncertain future, making all decisions prone to potential error. If the thinking was sound but the outcome unfavourable, it is still regarded as a valuable decision in the quest for progress. Hence Rudolf says, ‘it is allowed to make mistakes’.

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Efforts are important, Outcomes may break

Remember, it is allowed to make mistakes!


Pravin K. Sabnis

 


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