Business Quote by Alan Shepard
“And I think that still is true of this business - which is basically research and development - that you probably spend more time in planning and training and designing for things to go wrong, and how you cope with them, than you do for things to go right.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on NASA R&D, 1972
Emphasizes that in R&D most effort goes into anticipating and handling failures rather than celebrating successes.
In simple terms: R&D focuses on planning for problems.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize risk management.
Themes
risk management
planning
research
development
failure
success
Mood
cautious
analytical
pragmatic
Type
advisory
reflective
When to use this quote
- project management
- product development
- innovation
- team leadership
Key Concepts
contingency planning
probability assessment
design for failure
learning from mistakes
Questions to Reflect On
- How can teams balance preparation for failure with celebrating wins?
- What practices foster a culture that learns from both success and failure?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on negatives can stifle optimism and creativity.
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![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)