Megan Mayzelle’s Post

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Climate & Sustainability Writer • Scientist • Business Owner

Have you ever heard of the Vasa? It's sitting in its own multi-story museum in Stockholm. The Vasa was designed and built by the premier ship architects of the day. Its maiden voyage down the river and out to sea was a flagship event. Everyone came out to wave off the Vasa, and nearly every passenger was on deck happily waving back. And then it sunk. Immediately, directly, right there in the river, right in front of everyone. It never even made it to sea. It wasn't damaged. It was just poorly built. It tipped too easily in the wind and began taking on water in the too-low windows. Most people were able to escape, thanks to the nearby riverbanks and myriad onlookers. The few that didn't were perfectly preserved in the river silt along with the Vasa herself. And then, centuries later, the Vasa was raised, all in one piece, just as she was built. And there she stands today in the Vasa museum. The Vasa is perhaps the biggest ship-building failure of ALL TIME. And yet she's unabashedly celebrated as a success. If she hadn't failed so fully, so quickly, so NEATLY....well, we just wouldn't have all the rich knowledge of ship technology and Swede's everyday lives that is now housed in the Vasa Museum. Not to mention that, had she failed in a more, let's say, normal way...out at sea, in a storm, cut all from the world...then all her passengers would likely not have survived. Getting to know the Vasa taught me more than Swedish history. As I meandered through the stories entwined around Vasa, that thing we all hear but have trouble believing finally hit home. Failing is OK. Heck, failing can be great. It can be *celebrated*. Failing in itself can be a victory. And failing quickly, fully, right at the start -- before you get too far -- might just be the best way to LEARN a ton without LOSING a ton. I'm not saying move fast and break things ; in mission-driven work, we can't afford to break things more than they already are. But I am saying don't be afraid to fall in front of everyone. Bump your nose -- it's OK. Who knows? They might even applaud.

  • The Vasa ship in Stockholm, Sweden.

Insightful. Thank you. I will be in Stockholm in 3 weeks and will experience Vasa as well!

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