The School of Hard Knocks
Obviously not the best way to learn your lesson but sometimes things just happen, or possibly go astray and don’t happen the way they are meant. Most times the consequences come heavy to the individual that wasn’t paying attention, or didn’t do enough research or checking to catch a mistake before it occurred, or possibly just innocently naive. There is no time frame or age for the education to the “school of hard knocks”, but the sooner you learn and get out of this particular stage, the better off a person becomes. It comes with a price; maybe a monetary price, or the loss of a friendship. Whatever it may be, once you experience life and learn from “hard knocks” you will surely and hopefully not ever make the same mistake twice. At least you definitely shouldn’t!
At my current age it didn’t seem possible that such hard lessons could still be learned. When you believe the human race and do your best to “trustingly” accommodate people’s wishes, but get taken advantage of, regrettably costing you money out of your own pocket, it’s a very “hard knock”. You better wake up!
A different instance came to mind as this column was being composed. Once in the furniture business putting together a very large proposal for several buildings of new custom furnishings, the buyer’s corporate individual changed 21 offices from one type of medium affordable cost furniture to a very high end, expensive more corporate look; making various other changes during the review process. Hurriedly editing and revising the proposal, I deleted the less expensive 21 offices but neglected to add the custom offices. The bottom line of this “school of hard knocks” was my “eating” the cost of the custom furniture. Believe me when I say, that never happened again as it was painfully in the tens of thousands of dollars. However, the corporate man knowing what had happened and how it was resolved to his benefit, continued to stay with me throughout the years. In fact, he never looked anywhere else for a furniture rep. A blessing, but at the time a stomach punching awakening!
Sometimes the “school of hard knocks” happens when you are performing a job and don’t pay attention to your employees. Maybe the employees are temporary and low wage; haven’t been properly trained to do a professional job; maybe they don’t even know the difference; or possibly they haven’t been schooled in CODE regulations….worse, maybe no professional or owner bothered to supervise their work. And, mistakes happen along the way. Thankfully the internet, with a little bit of research, allows a person to become knowledgeable to code issues and able to catch mistakes. When wrongs need to be righted, it’s time to step up, confess or acknowledge the short comings and fix whatever…at your cost, not passing it along and trying to hide behind something “not your fault”. Reputations get ruined very easily when you aren’t willing to remedy your mistakes. It’s simply called a case of “hard knocks” and you hopefully learn to be much more careful going forward.
“Hard knocks” come from life experiences, not from formal education. You simply learn along the way albeit generally painfully. However, if you don’t try to accomplish something, you will never know or learn even though it may result in an unexpected “hard knock”. It’s a part of life. You try to make correct decisions based upon your feelings and current perceptions but things sometimes skew sideways. It’s just the “school of hard knocks”! BUT, don’t forget how you resolve your mistakes and unfortunate “hard knocks” decides your future existence…that’s known as KARMA …. And that’s another story and column!