By Nick Jacobs

Pierre Abelard:

The beginning of wisdom is found in doubting; by doubting we come to the question, and by seeking we may come upon the truth.

I've come to learn that the truth is where we seek it, and part of the problem with extremely high intelligence can be that it sometimes gets in the way of progress. All of my former valedictorian, senior leaders were so wrapped up in perfection that failure for them was an A-. They were terrified to make the wrong decision, and analysis paralysis was not only the norm, it was an obligation. Don't try new things. Be the 1000th person to do it. Don't ever take a chance. Don't make a decision that could come back to haunt you. Health care's herd mentality to the maximum.

Instead, failure to those of us who "live on the edge" is a way for us to grow and accomplish what we need to accomplish. It is important to realize that every accomplishment is preceded with plenty of failures. The key is to keep focused on the ball. To move it forward and to make sure that you surround yourself with winners.(For a sample of this discussion in the paraphrased words of one of my greatest mentors, Leland Kaiser)

Edward de Bono:

It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.