Byron's Babbles

In my daily reading this morning I came across the phrase, “he succeeded and failed just enough.” This phrase in Bond of Union: Building The Erie Canal and the American Empire by Gerard Koeppel really intrigued me. It made me wonder if there is a sweet spot of successes and failure in life. If so, what is it? Furthermore, how would we plan for that? In the context of the book, Koeppel meant the person in question had a mix of successes and failures, and in just the right balance to end up being successful. But how do we determine the right balance? It implied that they achieved some level of success, but also experienced failure. Really that probably describes all of us. Those involved in getting the wild idea of the Erie Canal approved, get the funding, do the engineering (remember, engineering didn’t even exist yet) had to be willing to fail a lot.

That willingness to fail was just the ticket and necessary for their growth or learning. There were people who thought these people proposing the canal were lunatics. I know I have proposed ideas along the way that made others believe I was crazy. But when you think about what the canal did for our country and the commerce of the east, we realize how important it is to have these crazy people who are willing to fail. The construction of the Erie Canal had a transformative and positive impact on both local communities and the nation as a whole.

The construction of the Erie Canal had numerous positive effects on both local and national levels. Firstly, the canal revolutionized transportation and trade by providing a direct and efficient route for goods to be transported between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. This significantly reduced shipping costs and time, boosting economic activity and facilitating the growth of cities along its route. Additionally, the canal opened up new opportunities for settlement and development in the Midwest, as it allowed for easier access to previously isolated areas. It also played a crucial role in fostering cultural exchange and communication, as people from various regions came together and shared ideas and experiences. Furthermore, the Erie Canal became a model for infrastructure projects in the United States, inspiring the construction of other canals and railroads, ultimately contributing to the nation’s overall progress and industrialization.

So let’s not forget trying to find a sweet spot between success and failure that can contribute to the overall progress or development of those things we are passionate about and move us toward fulfilling our purpose.