Trial and Error

Why are people so afraid of trial and error. Obviously it has to have something to do with the error part. We have somehow been conditioned to believe that we have to get everything right the first time. I have news for you we don't live in a perfect world.

Back in the 50's there were a group of chemist who had a need to develop a chemical for rapid water dispersion to use in the aerospace industry. They actually screwed up with 39 different formulas trying to find something that would work to prevent rust and corrosion on the outer skin of missiles. After a lot of "trial and error" the 40th formula actually worked. Of course being the marketing geniuses that chemist are they called the product Water Dispersion Formula #40, which was eventually shortened to WD-40.

I grew up in Mississippi and learned at an early age that you can fix anything with only two products, WD-40 and duct tape. If something moves and it shouldn't fix it with duct tape, if something does not move and it should use the WD-40.

Trial and error is not such a bad thing. Teddy Roosevelt once said "At any moment of decision the best thing to do is the right thing, the second best is the wrong thing, and the worst is to do nothing". Try something even if you fail, it's better than doing nothing.