13 Things Mentally Strong People Don\'t Do: Take Back Your Power, Embrace Change, Face Your Fears, and Train Your Brain for Happiness and Success pdfdrive com

STUDY THE MISTAKE
In the mid-1800s, Rowland Macy opened a dry goods store in Haverhill,
Massachusetts. Even though he opened the store in a quiet part of town that
rarely attracted visitors, let alone customers, he was certain that his store would
draw attention. But he was wrong and he was soon struggling to keep the doors
open. In an attempt to attract business to his part of town, he arranged for a large
parade, complete with a marching band, to lure people into the streets. The
parade ended in front of the store where a well-known businessman from Boston
was scheduled to give a speech.
Unfortunately, due to extremely hot weather on the day of the parade, no one

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ventured outdoors to follow the band as Rowland had expected. His marketing
mistakes cost him a lot of money and, ultimately, his business.
However, Rowland was someone who learned from his mistakes and just a
few short years later, he opened “R.H. Macy Dry Goods” in downtown New
York. This was his fifth store, following his previous four failed businesses. But
from each mistake he made, he learned something new. And by the time he
opened “R.H. Macy Dry Goods,” he had learned a lot about running a business
and marketing it successfully.
Macy’s Department Store has gone on to become one of the most successful
stores in the world. Unlike Rowland’s first parade, which was held during the
high heat of summer, the store now carries out its annual parade, the Macy’s
Thanksgiving Day Parade during the cool fall weather. Not only does it attract
large crowds into the streets, but it’s also broadcast on TV to more than forty-
four million viewers each year.
Rowland Macy didn’t simply look for excuses about why his first business
ventures weren’t successful. Instead, he studied the facts and took responsibility
for his part in each mistake. Then he was able to apply that knowledge to help
him do something different the next time.
If you want to avoid repeating a mistake, spend some time studying it. Set any
negative feelings you might have aside, acknowledge the factors that led up to
your misstep, and learn from it. Look for an explanation without making an
excuse. Ask yourself the following questions:
• What went wrong? Spend a little bit of time reflecting on your mistakes. Try
to discern the facts about what happened. Maybe you overspend on your
budget every month because you can’t resist shopping. Or maybe you get
into the same argument with your spouse repeatedly because the issue never
really resolves itself. Examine what thoughts, behaviors, and external factors
contributed to the mistake.
• What could I have done better? As you reflect on the situation, look for
things you could have done better. Maybe you didn’t stick with something
long enough. For example, maybe you gave up on trying to lose weight after
only two weeks. Or maybe your mistake is that you find too many excuses
about why you shouldn’t exercise and as a result, you just don’t stick with an

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effective weight-loss routine. Give yourself an honest evaluation.
• What can I do differently next time? Saying you’re not going to make a
mistake again and actually doing it are two very separate things. Think about
what you can do differently next time to avoid making the same mistake.
Identify clear strategies you can use to avoid resorting to your old behavior.