"You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over."

Learning new skills, especially fundamental ones, often comes from hands-on experience rather than simply adhering to guidelines. Walking, for instance, isn’t something you master by reading a manual. It’s about getting up, taking those first wobbly steps, and yes, falling down—a lot. But with each fall, you gather a bit more balance, a bit more confidence, and eventually, you’re on your way.

This idea can be traced back to many pioneers and innovators throughout history who didn’t stick to the rulebook. They took risks, made mistakes, and through those missteps, they found success. Think about Thomas Edison. He didn’t invent the lightbulb by meticulously following a set of rules. He tried over a thousand different ways that didn’t work. Each failure wasn’t just a step back—it was a step forward, teaching him what not to do and getting him closer to what would eventually light up the world.

Let’s take a practical example to make this clearer. Picture Sarah, a software developer who’s just started learning a new programming language. Sure, she could sit and read all the documentation and tutorials she can find. But when it comes down to it, she learns more from diving into a project and writing code. She’ll make errors, run into bugs, and sometimes, her code won’t run at all. But each mistake is a lesson. She debugs, she tries again, and through this iterative process, she gets better. Reading rules could never give her the same depth of understanding.

So how do you apply this in your life? If you’re trying to learn something new—whether it’s a skill, a hobby, or even a new way of thinking—don’t be afraid of messing up. Embrace it. Push yourself to step out of your comfort zone. Try that new technique, even if you’re sure you’ll fail. Take that risk. Make that leap. Each time you falter, you’re actually laying down the groundwork for future success.

Imagine you’re learning to play the guitar. You can study chords and finger placements all you want, but it’s not until you start strumming, hitting wrong notes, and adjusting your fingers that you really start to get the hang of it. Sure, it might sound terrible at first, and your fingers will hurt, but with each practice session, you gain muscle memory. You start to feel the music. The rules and theory only make sense after you’ve stumbled through the practice.

Or consider another scenario: public speaking. You can read all the advice about how to engage an audience, how to use hand gestures, and how to modulate your voice. But until you stand up in front of a crowd and feel your knees shake and your voice tremble, you won’t truly learn. Each time you speak, you’ll get a bit better. You’ll learn what works for you and what doesn’t.

So, next time you’re faced with the challenge of learning something new, remember: it’s not about getting it right the first time. It’s about doing—trying, failing, and trying again. Each fall is just another step on the path to mastery. Don’t just follow the rules. Make your own path, one stumble at a time.