Playing Favorites By Marshall Goldsmith There’s a reason I devote...
But getting angry with himself for making this mistake was just as fruitless as brooding over the slack business owner. I reminded him that he was extremely successful in spite of this mistake, and that he would only learn from his failings in this deal. By the end of the flight, he’d decided to cut his losses, sell the company, and apply what he’d learned to another new business.
It’s hard not to become consumed by anger, whether it’s directed at someone else or at ourselves. But trying to change the course of others and criticizing ourselves for past mistakes isn’t just unproductive, it’s exhausting. When you’re angry at someone else, redirect your energy to change yourself, not the other person, and commit to learn from your failures. It’s a much better way to navigate the waters.
Marshall Goldsmith is corporate America’s preeminent executive coach and a cofounder of Marshall Goldsmith Partners.