Either run from the past or learn from it.

The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it. ― Rafiki, The Lion King (Source)

Is it possible to be free from error? Not by any means.

Walt Disney’s first animation studio, Laugh-O-Gram, went bankrupt in 1923. He lost the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to Universal because he did not retain ownership of the character. When he proposed Disneyland, he faced skeptics and struggled to get funding because he was going into a new industry without prior experience.

He learned a few things.

• Balance creativity with financial discipline to grow sustainably.
• Retain ownership of intellectual property.
• Produce a TV show for ABC so the network would fund the park, which doubled as a park ad.

These failures became opportunities for Disney to grow, pivot, and refine the approach he and his company took.

When a person learns to walk, they fall along the way. But eventually they figure out how to run, ride a bike, drive a car, or even fly a plane. You make mistakes, and get better through study, reflection, and meaningful practice.

THE TAKEAWAY: Either run from the past or learn from it.