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I like potato chips. They’re crispy, easy to eat and if seasoned right, can be very yummy. The story behind the ‘discovery’ of potato chips is guaranteed to make you smile. Chips are the products of a frustrated chef’s action in a restaurant’s  kitchen, back in the 1800s. A difficult customer kept sending back his fried potatoes along with complaints of them being too thick. His response was to cut them razor thin and season them with extra salt (out of spite perhaps). What many would have considered an error on his part (making chips too thick in the first place, or razor thin later on) led to an innovative dish enjoyed by that customer and the generations of customers that followed. Naturally, our first reaction towards our mistakes is either anger, disgust, fear or embarrassment. I believe we react this way because of society’s conditioning towards perfection.  Think about it. Our teachers at school insisted on perfection, and memories of parents’ disapproval of “Second position” as opposed to First have been permanently engrained in our minds. On the other hand, the bad consequences of some mistakes can be dreadful; hence, our reactions. A poor business decision, for example, can lead to bankruptcy or failure. This is why some entrepreneurs are very cautious when making business moves. Bad decisions can also potentially lead to the failure of a relationship, marriage or even a nation. When next you make a mistake, remember to: 1. Take a deep breath, sing, say a prayer – do anything to stay calm. Then after all that is done, keep things moving. Whining about the issue will not solve anything and is a waste of energy and time in the long run. 2. Try to find a silver lining. Just like the razor thin chips, you may actually be staring at an innovation. On the other hand, your new mess is now a message for someone else: “Here’s how NOT to do XYZ.” 3. Apologize to those affected. Mistakes not only hurt us but sometimes others in the process. It’s important to say sorry immediately to the boss, colleague, friend, spouse or acquaintance when they’re negatively affected by our actions. 4. Try to avoid repetitions in the future. This of course depends on the nature of the mistake (case in point: potato chips). But if your mistake was costly, identify how it was made and devise a way of preventing a repetition. 5. Deal with the consequences positively. No matter how grave the aftermath is, rest assured that you can handle it either on your own or with the support of trusted friends and family. It’s not the end of the world and you will survive this.   With all these in mind, maybe mistakes don’t have to be so cringe-worthy after all. Let’s rise above all situations and sometimes take necessary risks that may (not) lead to mistakes.     About the Writer: Ify Halim is a young Creative and a promoter of values through the force that is writing.  Follow her on twitter: @MissHalim
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This article was first published on 20th March 2015

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