Most leaders fear being wrong in the boardroom.
Edison didn’t.
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
You've heard the quote. Most people think it's about grit.
For leaders, it's about something more dangerous: perfectionism.
You can't make one decision and expect it to be perfect. You stall on the new hire or delay the product launch, all because you're seeking perfection.
And do you know how hard that actually is?
As a leader, you need to embrace—and celebrate—imperfection. Every failure's a discovery.
That's what Edison realised. Every failure was a step closer to finding the right way to illuminate a room.
Your boardroom’s no different. Too often, you'll stall—all for the glory of being right.
Being wrong isn't the end. It's a signpost to a new idea or solution.
Think: 10,000 ways = 10,000 signposts.
Instead of seeking the right solution, think of the smallest way to fail—and try it.
Failures feed your next test, like Musk’s loops.
Progress is rarely a giant leap. More often, it's hundreds of deliberate failures (Unless it’s irreversible—then pause and dig deeper).
This week: Look for the stalled decision. What's the smallest way you can test it?
