Always own up to your mistakes.
Always own up to your mistakes.
#53 - an exhibition of musical talent
Hi there,
Turns out I’ve missed watching cricket. With the start of the school year hitting me like a forceful gale of wind, I’ve not managed to keep up with the cricketing world. But, half term break has coincided splendidly with the T20 World Cup and so I’ve been enjoying watching the matches in the past two days, including a fitting thrilling India-Pakistan encounter, spiced up by the hype around the occasion.
Highlight of the week: performing for Funky Bishops (the school jazz band) in the Junior Soloists Concert. Seems like music is planning to dominate this prize every week! Really enjoyed listening to some skilful playing and joined in the fun myself, playing 3 songs with the band and even sneaking a little solo of my own (have a listen).
‘Better safe than sorry’ is a good principle to follow most of the time in life. That’s why we had a quick (stretched to an hour-long) rehearsal at the end of the school day on Tuesday ahead of the concert. Luckily, all sounded good and we were good to go.
Looking to surprise the audience, we staged ourselves behind the curtains. This meant that we had to get ourselves in our seats in pianissimo style, quiet and in the dark. As we get our instruments ready to go and sit in position, my fellow Alto Sax 2 asks me in panic, “Adi, where’s the music?”
I had played with it earlier but we searched in the folder, on the floor, next to us, behind us. Nothing. A few seconds to showtime. I grab my phone, get his number and WhatsApp it to him. I am fumbling on my phone as Mr Buxton announces our beginning.
We get through the piece, not without my frantic scrolling up and down the landscape phone every few seconds. My friend manages to read off the Alto 1 part, whilst I and the other Alto 2 sat next to me manage to crank something sounding like music using my phone.
Disaster averted - good. Avoidable? 200%. I asked someone to grab the music from the stage as I was packing my instrument earlier, to show to the teacher there and ask a couple of questions. Clearly then, it was my fault of not looking after the music properly.
This was where Dale Carnegie, author of the book I’ve just finished, popped into my head. In the chapter called If You’re Wrong, Admit It, he writes
There is a certain satisfaction in having the courage to admit one’s errors. It not only clears the air of guilt and defensiveness, but often helps solve the problem created by the error.
Any fool can try to defend his or her mistakes - and most fools do - but it raises one above the herd and gives one a feeling of nobility and exultation to admit one’s mistakes.
He goes on to say that it produces “astonishing results” and is actually quite “fun”.
I followed through on this advice (like any good book reader would 😉) and sent him a message when I got home.
And he was happy, “It’s fine Adi, don’t worry”. Problem sorted, relationship repaired, friendship saved 😂.
It is powerful to accept your own mistakes and internalise your weaknesses1. Instead of blaming the teachers or the questions on the exam, I can point to my method of preparation or procrastination. It is productive and responsible, giving you greater clarity over what you need to do as you control the true controllables.
We all make mistakes - it’s normal. It’s what you do with them that matters. Don’t wallow in your misery, point your finger at something external and shove it under the carpet when you know, from the bottom of your heart, that it was your fault. Accept it, embrace it, learn from it and move on with full autonomy and freedom.
Book of the week 📖
My reading this week has mostly been having my head stuck in BBC News’ live page, intensely following the Prime Minister-ial “circus”. When I did pick up The Wealth of Nations however, I’ve really enjoyed it so far. It’s a big book though…
Podcast of the week🎙️
The Art of Charm: 3 Ingredients to Build Empathy and Foster Deep Relationships | Geoffrey Cohen
My dad is a certified preacher about empathy. Learnt a lot from this about our mind.
Article of the week 📰
Turns out there’s maths involved in friendship and networking - find out how and why.
Quote of the week 💬
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet - Aristotle
Here’s to a relaxing week ahead,
Adi
As a side note, this can be related to the political chaos happening down South in Westminster. The media portray making ‘u-turns’ as abject failures when really they are a sign of rectifying what we got wrong, something that should be welcomed. More on this in this podcast episode.
(I think adding these footnotes helps me keep the posts to a reasonable length. If you want more of my writing (thank you 😊) then you get to scroll to the bottom and have your wishes fulfilled. Thoughts?)