Intro
In this episode of the Freakonomics podcast titled “How to Succeed at Failing, Part 1: The Chain of Events,” host Stephen J. Dubner explores the concept of failure and its various contexts. From analyzing the devastating wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, to understanding the chain of events leading up to school shootings, this episode delves into the causes and consequences of failure.
Main Takeaways
Managing Wildfires and Evacuation
- Lahaina, Hawaii was hit by a wildfire that killed nearly 100 people and destroyed over 2,000 buildings.
- Ed Gallia, director of Fire Safety Engineering at the University of Greenwich, studies how people react to disasters.
- Gallia believes that tragedies that were predictable and preventable are failures.
- The key issue in managing wildfire situations is managing the evacuation, including when to start it and how to inform the public.
- A failure is not just about the tragic moment, but a chain of events that includes failure to notify people early enough, failure for people to respond to the call, and failure for people to have a plan for evacuation.
Understanding Failure as a Chain of Events
- Failure is a chain of events with many causes and consequences, both public and private.
- Most people don’t think about failure as a chain of events, but instead get angry and look for someone to blame.
- Failures in organizations often occur because of silos not communicating with each other.
- We don’t learn enough from failures because we don’t share them systematically enough.
Embracing Failure and Taking Risks
- “Be bad. Don’t be boring.” – a mantra from acting teachers that applies to taking chances and risking failure to create something good.
- Organizations need to keep changing to stay relevant in a changing world, but they struggle with it.
- Most of us fail at failure due to aversion, confusion, and fear – emotionally, cognitively, and socially.
- We’re not trained well in uncertainty or novelty, leading to a strong emphasis on getting the right answer or succeeding, not failing.
Failure in Different Contexts
- The podcast series “How to Succeed at Failing” will explore failure in various contexts, including business, government, relationships, imagination, and determination.
- Failure stories tend not to be advertised as well as success stories.
- The way we see failure has changed over the centuries and varies across individuals and cultures.
- Failure is an inability to accomplish important goals that you have set out for yourself, but there are different definitions of failure.
School Shootings and Preventive Measures
- David Reedman, founder of the K-12 school shooting database, records every shooting at a school in the United States.
- The causal chain leading up to a school shooting has dozens of events, and any single success would break the chain and prevent the shooting from happening.
- Aaron Stark, a former school shooter, was stopped by a classmate who showed him compassion and made him feel valued.
- Simple human compassion and connection can help prevent school shootings.
Summary
Understanding Failure as a Chain of Events
Failure is not just a singular event but a chain of events with multiple causes and consequences. This concept is often overlooked, as people tend to focus on blaming someone rather than analyzing the entire chain. Failures in organizations are often a result of silos not communicating with each other, leading to a lack of shared knowledge and learning from failures.
Embracing Failure and Taking Risks
To succeed at failure, individuals and organizations need to embrace the idea of taking risks and being willing to fail. Fear and aversion to failure often hinder progress and innovation. By reframing failure as a necessary part of the learning process, individuals can overcome the emotional, cognitive, and social barriers associated with failure.
Failure in Different Contexts
The podcast series “How to Succeed at Failing” explores failure in various contexts, including business, government, relationships, imagination, and determination. Failure is subjective and can be defined differently based on individual goals and cultural perspectives. By sharing failure stories and learning from them, individuals and societies can progress and evolve.
School Shootings and Preventive Measures
Understanding the chain of events leading up to school shootings is crucial in preventing such tragedies. The K-12 school shooting database records every school shooting in the United States, highlighting the importance of identifying red flags and breaking the chain of events. Simple acts of compassion and connection can make a significant difference in preventing school shootings.
Conclusion
Failure is an inevitable part of life, and understanding it as a chain of events can help individuals and organizations learn and grow. By embracing failure, taking risks, and fostering compassion, we can create a virtuous circle of success. The next episode of the Freakonomics podcast will delve into the Nobel Prize-winning research on messenger RNA and the power of persistence in the face of failure.
