Experiment and Error: The Lesson Applied from R&D to Daily Life

Are you afraid of making mistakes? For many of us, making mistakes can be uncomfortable, especially when starting a new project and facing numerous failures. However, failure is not the end in science and engineering—it is a new beginning. In R&D, every experiment and mistake is a step toward a better solution. So why don't we apply the same mindset to our daily lives?

Mistakes in Science: The Real Engine of Discoveries

In R&D, failure is a natural part of the problem-solving journey. Thomas Edison, while inventing the light bulb, famously said, “I have not failed. I've just found 1,000 ways that won't work.” For him, the wrong paths were stepping stones to the right one.

Is this perspective only for scientists? Certainly not. In life, we sometimes make wrong decisions, make mistakes, and even experience major losses. But when we look back, we realize those mistakes shaped us. The moments we thought we were lost could be the ones that made us grow.

For me, years ago, my determination and persistence to continue with a project that repeatedly failed ultimately led to my current successes. During that process, I learned that failure is simply a step, and the solution comes through mistakes. In science and engineering, this is true—and so it is in life.

Applying the R&D Mindset to Daily Life

We can integrate the R&D approach to making mistakes into our everyday lives. We make mistakes when learning new skills, advancing in our careers, or in personal relationships. But often, the fear of failure holds us back. The key to overcoming this is to view mistakes as learning opportunities.

? Instead of saying, “I made a mistake,” ask yourself, “What did I learn from this mistake?” ? Learn to turn small failures into big successes. ? Creativity and innovation are possible when we dare to try and take risks.

Successes Born from Mistakes

Looking at major innovations, many of them were born from failure and trial-and-error processes. Post-it notes were the result of a failed adhesive experiment. The microwave oven was discovered when a scientist noticed that a chocolate bar in his pocket melted. Penicillin was found through a mistake in Alexander Fleming’s laboratory.

But is this principle only applicable in science? Certainly not. A musician's first compositions are often unimpressive. A writer’s first stories may be filled with clichés. An artist's first brushstrokes may be clumsy. Even in my own blog-writing journey, I find myself constantly improving. With every attempt, the more I embrace failure, the more I realize we can grow. Every successful person’s journey is filled with countless failures.

Thinking Like an R&D Engineer in Life

In my personal life, adopting the curiosity, questioning, and results-focused mindset of an R&D engineer has made my life more enjoyable. Being an R&D engineer taught me to embrace mistakes rather than fear them. The key is to learn from every failure, keep going, and never give up because life, like science, is a continuous learning process through experimentation. Today’s mistakes may lay the foundation for tomorrow’s greatest successes.

Conclusion: Adopting the R&D Mindset

So, how about applying the R&D approach to your life? Instead of looking at past mistakes with regret, are you ready to discover how you can turn them around? Remember, mistakes are not just moments where we get lost—they can be signs that lead us to the right path. Don’t be afraid to experiment and make mistakes—who knows? The step you think is wrong may lead you to an unexpected discovery.