Sounds simple enough doesn’t it? Nothing overly profound. And yet, most of us do not like uncertainty and wish it away. We want answers, clarity, and treat uncertainty as an enemy to be disposed of.

“If I were given one hour to save the planet, I would spend 59 minutes defining the problem and one minute resolving it.”

Attributed to Albert Einstein

“I have not failed 1,000 times.  I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb.”

Attributed to Thomas Edison

In both of these quotes there is the underlying notion that we don’t get it ‘right’ the first time. It takes a lot of trying things, going in different directions, starting and stopping, dead ends, false starts, and so on. However, these ‘failures’ or ‘mistakes’ are an essential part of the process of getting to a solution.

The same can be said about writing, creating presentations, conducting sales calls, learning to manage teams, implementing change projects. False starts are to be expected if we are to find our ‘groove’ and find a way through.

Perhaps uncertainty is a sign we are on to something. Perhaps it is a sign to keep exploring, not to give up. Perhaps we should expect it, look for it, as it points to opportunity waiting to be found.

Photo by Jon Tyson