Embracing failure...

Here's a somewhat recent TED talk from an event in Calgary. The basic point that the speaker makes is that a failure to acknowledge failure seems to be holding organizations back.

Here the emphasis is on NGOs targetting international development and the sexiness of building schools and wells plus buying goats versus some of the other problems holding development back. I think that the principle applies more generally though. I'd also argue that it's not a good idea simply to acknowledge your own failures, but also to learn from the failures of those who've attempted things before you.