You learn more by falling than by the fear of falling, and relationship to quality

There is a fortune cookie message that says, “You learn more by falling than by the fear of falling.” This is the most fundamental element of organizational and personal improvement. Deming’s plan–do–study–act cycle tells us to continuously try something new, learn from it, and try again and again—each time applying what we learn to become better.

Michael Jordan once said, “I missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I was entrusted to take the game winning shot . . . and missed. And I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why . . . I succeed.” 

Life teaches us that, no matter how much we wish we could, we can’t avoid risk—there is greater risk in doing nothing than trying something different. Those people and organizations who succeed and become great aren’t afraid of risk—aren’t afraid of trying new things, aren’t afraid of falling down and getting back up again. To do otherwise means we remain still while others pass us—others will do well while we decline.

Change is the most fundamental element of human life and organizations. Change fuels the engine of performance excellence. Yet, the result of a four-year study by Leadership IQ showed that the major reason American CEOs get fired is failure to sell and manage needed organizational change. ~ The Executive Guide to Understanding and Implementing Quality Cost Programs, ASQ Press.