A very successful CEO was once asked what made him so successful, “Good Decisions” he said. Well, how does one make sure one makes good decisions? “Experience” he said. So how does one gain experience in order to make good decisions? “Bad Decisions” said the CEO.

This quote comes from a father and son dialogue entitled "Avoiding Prattfalls at Pratt" posted on the website for the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke (www.pratt.duke.edu/news/feature_younger.php). I think it is instructive as to the ways we learn...it is far easier to learn from failure than from success. Success breeds false pride and lock-step conformity (if it ain't broke, don't fix it)...failure causes us to re-examine, to repair, to reflect. Of course, a couple of successes here and there doesn't hurt to remind us at least we are on the right path...