Deny Your Mistake

Every revolution has started with a refusal. Gandhi became the MAHATMA when he refused to give into violence. Rosa Parks kicked a storm when she refused to give her bus seat. And I? I refuse to accept my mistakes.

Much ado has been made about owning up your mistakes in the motivational literature. Some fictional stories end up supporting it. Odd examples of the likes of Dhoni/Dravid taking the blame for loss further contributes to this myth. It is supposed to make you a better person, and contribute to your growth. However, this is survivorship bias at this best, which shouldn’t become a basis for our outlook towards life.

Concentrating on entities that passed a selection process while overlooking those that did not, only leads to incorrect conclusions. For every Dhoni that became a legend for owning up to their shortcomings, there are 100s of As and Bs who were sacrificed in order to set an example and fix accountability.

Not a single corporate manager, politician or civil servant has benefitted from accepting their mistake. Our world isn’t built for honest introspections and practical realities. On paper, we have built a utopia where everything has to be correct in laws, policies and ethics. Consequently, our organizations are essentially echo chambers with clear internalization of "success was achieved" whether or not anyone remembers how, or if, it truly happened. And in such a world, you better learn the art of denying the mistake.

The other benefit of denying your mistake is the employment creation and consequent benefits to economy it leads to. Now that we have the situation where “No one killed Jessica”, it’s paramount to engage someone to find it out, thereby generating jobs. Outside experts, consultants, committees all come into the picture. Then, there are indirect jobs which get generated like wild mushrooms.

And, this isn’t a conjecture anymore. 4.9 out of 5 economists* recommend denying mistakes for the overall growth of the economy. The sheer selflessness in this endeavour is worth an award by some organization established for giving away awards. These organizations have a huge economic impetus as well, but that’s a discussion for another day.

Mistakes, I have learnt, can only be made by demi-gods and gods in this world. When Einstein wasn’t THE Einstein, his mistakes were dealt with serious reprimand. After graduating, he took some time before he could find a stable job. His employers at the patent office also didn’t think highly of him. They did not think that he should be promoted until he had "fully mastered machine technology". But once he was established as the demi-god of Physics, the world couldn’t care less about his static cosmological constant, or rejection of the quantum theory. Moral of the story - until you become a demi-god of your field, deny your mistakes.

The good part is, it is easy to deny your mistakes.

One of the time-tested techniques is to blame someone whose life you can make difficult. It could be your driver, your junior whose appraisal goes through you, or the PhD student under you. None of these fellows would typically squeak, more so in India. Last time a junior could rightfully blame his senior and get away without getting harassed, Himalayas were rising while the Eastern Ghats copped the blame for not being as supportive an ecosystem.

If you are way down in the food chain and don’t really have someone who reports to you, you could blame the mysterious market forces for your mistakes. I routinely do it when I procrastinate booking my flight tickets and end up paying a bomb for a plan which was made months ago. Market forces were also blamed every time a recession or scam happens because some people got too greedy. 

If you find yourself in a position of some power, you can also blame the ‘system’. The beauty of the system is that it is everywhere and nowhere, making it the perfect scapegoat. It is an omnipresent entity that can be blamed for anything and everything. "The system is broken," you can say with a grave face, and everyone will nod in agreement. After all, who hasn't been a victim of the 'system' at some point? This maneuver allows you to appear as a thoughtful critic, not as the source of the problem.

Another sophisticated technique is to reframe the narrative. Your error wasn't a 'mistake'; it was a 'strategic pivot', a 'learning experience', or a 'beta test'. This is particularly effective in corporate environments where jargon is a form of currency. Call your massive blunder an 'unplanned testing'. You didn't get it wrong; you were simply exploring an alternative pathway to success.

The next time you falter, stand tall, look them in the eye, and ask, "Mistake? What mistake?" Join the revolution. Refuse.