My Favorite Times to Make a Mistake

Photo by Charles Deluvio

I used to think there was no good time to make a mistake. In school, I was only satisfied with an A, and, at work, I strove for 100-percent flawless execution. I didn't achieve that, of course, but it was my goal.

Then, I became an interior designer. Interior design is art and science. Good art is the product of lots of "mistakes" that creatives call "drafts" or "sketches." I throw away many, many drafts before I draw a floorplan that works. I consider dozens of swatches before finding the perfect fabric. 

Here are some of my favorite times to make a mistake:

• On paper - before I've committed to the design for a new room or purchased any furniture or fixtures.
• With safe people - the ones who will shrug and say, "Wow, I'm glad we tried that but let's do this next time."
• When I can easily fix it - like when I'm sampling paint colors rather than after I've painted the whole room.

The irony for an over-achiever like me is that making mistakes at the right time improves my work.