I've been successful at several careers now. In only one of those can I say a level of skill was achieved that would be recognized as mastery. I wouldn't characterize the experience in other careers as failures. They weren't dead ends, full stops like the word "failure" would suggest. They were rich experiences that got me to the next endeavor. Rocket ships fail, leaving a heap of smoldering wreckage. Plumbing fails, leaving a monstrous mess to clean up. My previous careers were more akin to booster rockets - they consumed tremendous energy, served their purpose, and in the end burned out and were jettisoned. There were, however, plenty of lesser failures along the way.
Hunting Failure
Hunting Failure
Hunting Failure
I've been successful at several careers now. In only one of those can I say a level of skill was achieved that would be recognized as mastery. I wouldn't characterize the experience in other careers as failures. They weren't dead ends, full stops like the word "failure" would suggest. They were rich experiences that got me to the next endeavor. Rocket ships fail, leaving a heap of smoldering wreckage. Plumbing fails, leaving a monstrous mess to clean up. My previous careers were more akin to booster rockets - they consumed tremendous energy, served their purpose, and in the end burned out and were jettisoned. There were, however, plenty of lesser failures along the way.