We all fail at something at some time in our lives. The common sense view is that we should learn from these failures and not do it again. But when it comes to experiments or projects we seem to ignore the rule.

When an experiment succeeds - that is to say that we achieve the result that we predicted - then that is because we made the right assumptions. If it goes wrong we simply repeat it until it goes right. What we rarely do it see whether our "wrong" answer has any value; if it the right answer to a different question. Just think about the supposedly accidental discovery of penicillin, or the (probably apocryphal) story of the man trying to make an impact glue for paper who's failure lead to the invention of Post-Its.

When it comes to projects, there are hardly any that achieve all their stated aims. But we fudge the final reports. Those who provide the money are reluctant to say that a project has failed. Those carrying out the project write wordy reports covering up the fact that there are no real results or that they are based on so little evidence as to be dubious at best. What neither side is apparently prepared to do is to declare; "This project has succeeded by showing that the original proposal was wrong" or "this project has failed to do A but look at the B we have discovered!"
Should the world of experimentation and projects be more excited and open about failure. Should we look more publicly at why we failed to prove A or to create a B, because we might just have demonstrated something very important. There might be no need for an A contrary to popular assumption - thereby saving money. There might be good reasons why we can't create a B but we might have made a great C in the by-going.

Let us be more open and proud of failure. Failure can be a signal that the direction we were going is not the right one.

On the other hand it could be that we are not very good at what we are doing. But at least let us know why.

Set out proudly for the sea and arrive at the mountains.
 
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