Call Me a Fool

Mistakes make life worth living.

My heart was pounding, my hands sweating, and my face flushed. I’d answered several questions — badly. I knew it, and the ten interviewers knew it.

One of them asked again, “What is your vision for this position, and how will you implement plans to achieve it?”

I stammered for a moment, then blurted out, “I know you aren’t going to hire me, and this interview is going badly. Let’s just call it.” Grabbing my purse, I stood and rushed out the door.

I felt foolish — foolish for thinking I was qualified for this job, and foolish for thinking I could fake my way through the interview.

Was it better to ‘call it,’ or should I have stayed and stumbled my way through the rest of the interview? At least I was honest…

Do fools know they are foolish?

An old friend told me once, “There are so many ways of being a fool, that no man can hope to dodge them all.” (Max Oakley, 1926–2019).

Looking back, I’ve done plenty of foolish things — not just at work, but in my life.

I’ve been impulsive, thought I knew more than others, argued just to win, and repeated mistakes hoping for different results (and we all know how that works).

We all worry about appearing foolish. No one wants to be embarrassed. I remember trying to justify my smoking to a group of coworkers, one of whom was obese, “At least I won’t die from being fat!” I instantly felt regret and shame.

Mark Twain said it best: “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” My foot tends to live in my mouth, so I probably haven’t learned that lesson very well.

When we think we know everything, we’re being foolish. It is one thing for our grandchildren to think we are the smartest person on earth, but it’s another when we expect adults to treat us that way.

Jumping into a relationship impulsively, thinking you’re in love, without thinking about the ramifications or consequences? Foolish. Thinking you’re always right and no one else’s opinion matters? Foolish. Keep doing the same thing and then complain about being unlucky? Foolish!

“Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain — and most fools do.” Dale Carnegie

On the flip side, there’s a charm to certain types of foolishness. Making funny faces with your grandchildren or showing them just how close they can get to a creek when trying to skip rocks may seem silly, but it teaches them creativity and bravery. By being foolish, we can explore new ideas, stay curious and not rely on other’s approval.

Just think — if there were no fools we wouldn’t have magicians, Kanye West rushing the stage, Roseanne Barr’s version of the National Anthem, fake news, or April Fool’s Day!

The trick is to be able to laugh at yourself. Foolishness keeps life unpredictable and gives you better stories to tell!