WE SHOULD TURN OUR MISTAKES INTO STEPPING STONES

Several years ago, a major pet food company invested thousands of dollars
in a new dog food. They sank a bundle of money into new packaging, clever
slogans and an aggressive advertising campaign. Within six months, the
company had suffered a whopping loss on its "brand new, improved product."

Why? Because the dogs didn't like it.

Apparently, the corporate hounds hadn't thought of testing the new kibbles
on prospective consumers.

An anti-drug group thought it had found a clever way to put a powerful
slogan into the hands of school children. They gave away thousands of
pencils bearing the words, "Too Cool To Do Drugs."

It didn't take long for the kids to see new messages appearing right before
their little fingers. A few sharpenings, and the message read, "Cool To Do
Drugs." A few more whacks in the grinder, and the message became, "Do Drugs."

Mistakes are embarrassing, to say the least. They can also be costly, not
only in terms of dollars and cents, but in terms of our personal credibility.

Some blunders blight our reputations and cause others to approach us with
caution.

Others cloud our judgment and threaten our personal integrity.

What we do with a mistake is critical.

Blaming others is often the first response of human nature, but I've found
that's a poor choice.

Taking ownership of our mistakes and finding a positive way to deal with
them is the best route.

Getting defensive and passing the buck only makes our character more suspect.

A simple, genuine, "I'm sorry; I was wrong, and I apologize," goes a long
way in building a bridge with someone we've offended.

Showing ownership and offering explanations of the wrongdoing helps us gain
more ground with a boss or co-worker than whining and making excuses.

Maintaining a good relationship with a spouse or close friend demands
ownership of our mistakes and a willingness to forgive one another for
foibles and flops.

Mistakes are part of the human experience.

It all comes back to the power of choice. We can turn a mistake into a
stumblingblock or a stepping stone. The worst mistake we can make is to
stand still and do nothing.

We need to pray for wisdom and for Divine guidance to lead us back to the
right path.

Believe me, I know. I'm one of the fools who invested in that stupid dog food.