If I Only Knew Then...learning...
If I Only Knew Then...learning from our mistakes has been the most demanding book I've ever worked on and the most rewarding.
In the past, I've written whatever I've done, but this was a two year job of reaching out to friends and friends of friends to write an essay.
It's really been worth it because I feel there's so much wisdom in this book. As I've said elsewhere, in the past when we've made a mistake, we don't know it, so I'm certain most of us right now are making mistakes and don't know it.
This book offers so many insights from successful people that it can serve as a caution to us all. We might spot something that we're doing right now and have it open our eyes to make a different choice. That's invaluable, because some of these mistakes were quite serious.
Several of the people we reached out to had absolutely no interest in writing about a mistake they made. One close friend said simply "Out of the question."
It was interesting how many people had no interest in looking back on a mistake they made. I can only theorize that it was too painful, and they simply didn't want to go there. Some people honestly had a hard time thinking of a mistake they made. Some, I think felt that such an admission was a sign of weakness not strength which is how I see it.
Some people said they would write one and never did. I don't fault people for that. You can have the best intentions and never get around to doing what you said you were going to do.
For me personally, it's very important to do what I say I'll do, even if I change my mind.
I would like to see this book become part of the curriculum in high schools and colleges. I have no financial gain here, as all my proceeds go to Help U.S.A., one of the nation's largest providers of services to the homeless.
I feel it would be way more important to study this book than say algebra. I once asked an algebra teacher what the purpose of the course was, and he couldn't tell me.
The purpose of reading this book is to become wiser.
Copyright © Charles Grodin
