Ecological Human Services Management

There is a popular notion that advises that we can't succeed without first failing. The idea is that we fail forward to success. There are other variations such as we learn best from our mistakes and this sweeping generalization from Herman Melville, "Failure is the true test of greatness." Since notions like "failure is a prerequisite to success" or "mistakes are prelude to positive outcomes" strike me as absurd, I think I will turn to Buddha for guidance. "Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it — even if I have said it — unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense." If you are reluctant to take this contrary thinking trip with me, let me remind you of Bertrand Russell's take on contrary thinking. "In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted." Or perhaps this from J K Galbraith, "The conventional view serves to protect us from the painful job of thinking." Sure, I've made my share of mistake