I Made a Mistake

In a recent job interview, I had to fess up to an infamous error I made while at my last job.

I was editing an edition of a research journal. The editing and proofreading had been a long process, and it was down to the finishing touches. Suddenly, word came that the journal was going to be handed out at a conference and it needed to go to print now. The graphic designer was preparing the standard cover design and I asked him to be sure to put the volume number on the cover before he sent it to the printer.

The next thing I knew, we got an outraged call from said conference with the news that the cover said “Volumer.”

Now I’ve got to tell you that I have mixed feelings about this error. On the one hand, it was a while back and everyone makes mistakes and it’s not the end of the world. On the other, how embarrassing! What a way to look bad – big and bold and on the cover! It is a pretty big blow to my professional ego – how could I possibly let that kind of thing happen?

I take responsibility here – I did not check the cover before it went to the printer. For all future editions of the journal, and indeed, for all other future projects, I checked everything closely, especially covers, regardless of the looming deadline.

My colleagues were gracious and played it down. They shared similar stories about their own mistakes. For months afterward, we joked about adding an extra “r” on the ends of words. Someone suggested we blow up a copy of the cover, frame it and hang it on the wall. For this lighthearted pain sharing, I am grateful.

There is a lesson here, or perhaps a few. I like to think of it this way:

·         Learn from your mistakes but don’t dwell on the past.

·         Own up but don’t be too hard on yourself.

·         Strive for perfection but don’t be disappointed if you don’t get there (because you won’t).

What’s your philosophy on making mistakes?