The journey we’re all are on is similar. We have to deal with rejection, failure, unpleasant underarm smells, success, people we don’t like, death, kids (may not be our own) and our emotions that can make us happy and pissed off all at the same time.

It’s a tough gig being human, but that’s the card we were dealt. Part of the job description that we have as humans is being wrong. Understanding what it really means to be wrong is what this article is all about.

I want to give you the real story about being wrong and inspire you with the reality: It’s great when you’re wrong.

This is going to sound even crazier but here goes nothing:

“I want to be wrong as much as possible”

Why?

Being wrong is how I’ve learned everything I know. The process of doing involves being wrong a hell of a lot. I know that when I’m wrong, I’m putting in the work.

I’m like a mad scientist experimenting with different potions to find the winning one which is fulfillment of a purpose bigger than myself.

I’m not the only person that’s wrong. You’re wrong a lot too.

“Trying to be right is how you end up in a rut wondering why you’re not heading in the direction you want to”

I aim to be wrong at least once a day.

I have breakfast being wrong.

Then I go out for lunch and I’m wrong.

I then come home from work even more wrong. I smile the whole time because I’ve stopped hiding from the truth.

You’ll end up wrong more times than you’re right.

The truth is you’re going to be wrong in life more times than you’re right, so you better get used it.

Practice being wrong.

Expect you’ll be wrong.

Be excited when you’re wrong.

“On the other side of being wrong is being right and that will lead you to something much bigger and better than you could have ever hoped for”

The challenge we all face is trying to be right.

That idea leads to perfection and you’ll never reach that goal no matter how hard you try. Perfection is where you forget you’re human. By our very nature as a species, we’re flawed, wrong, fucked up, emotional and destined to die.

I’m not trying to be Debbie Downer I just want you to get used to being wrong and understand it’s in your DNA. When you plan to be wrong and expect it, you think about failure and set up your strategy for life differently.

The revelation: stacking the odds.

If you look at the statistical view of being wrong, and you see that the odds are stacked against you, a revelation will occur:

“All you need to do is be right a fraction of the time to win the game of life”

Winning becomes about only needing to be right (successful) every so often. The road to achieving your goals looks a lot different when you expect to be wrong.

Admit when you’re wrong.

Admitting to yourself you’re wrong is one level of the game; admitting to everyone else when you’re wrong is much harder.

I’ve found that by telling people I’m wrong when I am, I get the following benefits:

• People respect me more
• I have less shame about being wrong
• I don’t try and hide when I’m wrong anymore
• I celebrate when I’m wrong
• I accept the gift of being wrong and accept the learnings

The weakest thing you can do is try to pretend you’re right when you know you’re not. Join ‘The Wrong Club’ that we were all born into and start wearing it with a sense of pride.

Where to from here?

Wear a t-shirt that says you’re going to be wrong today. Have the “wrong talk” with your romantic partner when your fortune telling skills are proven to be non-existent.

Hi-five your brother or sister from another mother when you’re wrong.

Add up your wrongs on a scorecard and see that each wrong carries a diamond in the form of learnings and knowledge.

Tell people when you’re wrong. It’s good for business and for life.

If you want to increase your productivity and learn some more valuable life hacks, then join my private mailing list on timdenning.net