Commentary—Mistakes, portals of discovery Published Sept. 21, 2011 By Master Sgt. Brian Potvin 47th Communications Squadron LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Let's face it, everyone makes mistakes. If someone ever tells you there's nothing they regret having done in their lives, they're probably not being completely truthful. I think it would be extremely difficult to find one person, even those who've been very successful in life, who hasn't made a fairly significant mistake in their careers or personal lives. Don't get me wrong, mistakes are bad and should be avoided at all costs, especially in today's Air Force with past and current rounds of force shaping trimming the force. We're getting very selective on whom we allow to continue to wear our uniform. If you make a serious mistake, you may be someone who's shown the way towards the front gate for the last time. As leaders and members of the Armed Services, we're held to a higher standard and if we stray from that standard, there may be serious negative consequences and repercussions. If we fail to uphold our standards of ethics, integrity and accountability, then we must and will be held accountable. Once you've been held accountable, it's time to get up, press on and grow from your mistake. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." To me, times of challenge and controversy also applies to times when you're challenged to overcome a bad time in your life, either professionally or personally. When you find yourself in a situation where you've just made a mistake or done something wrong in your life, you really do stand at a crossroads. You can either let the situation defeat you and not even attempt a recovery, or you can stand up, brush yourself off and press forward being the productive, professional Airman the United States Air Force needs you to be. Should you decide to allow your situation to get the best of you, I think you'll look back on your life and have even more regrets than you would have otherwise. However, if you decide that you will not allow your mistakes to define you, there are some things you need to do. First, accept responsibility for your actions. The time for pointing fingers is over at that point, it's now time to commit yourself to learning from your mistakes. James Joyce, in his famous and controversial series entitled "Ulysses", originally published in The Little Review from 1918 to 1920, tells us, "Mistakes are the portals of discovery". Take time to reflect on your mistake, so that you can open your own "portal of discovery". This will allow you to learn as much as you possibly can so the same mistakes won't be repeated. Walk yourself through your experience and the events that led up to it. What could you have done differently? I'm sure you'll discover lots of ways to learn. Additionally, you need to willingly accept the consequences of your actions or inaction. Showing your leadership that you truly realize the error of your ways and accepting the punishment or administrative action, they determine is warranted can truly be the beginning of your road back to success. Seek out opportunities to stand out amongst your peers in a good way. Volunteering to chair a committee or team, or becoming an active participant in your base's professional organizations are great ways to shine in a positive way. Lastly, don't hang your head in defeat in public. Square your shoulders back, hold your head up high and remain positive. With a positive attitude, you will recover and before you know it, your career will be back on track! Ronald Reagan once said, "Now what should happen when you make a mistake is this: take your knocks, you learn your lessons and then you move on. That is the healthiest way to deal with a problem."