A tale of two dishes—and a reminder about learning, success, and failure...

I tried a new method for making ribs last weekend... and as you can see, it didn’t go well. I actually had to throw them all in the trash. I can’t remember the last time I failed so hard at making dinner.

A younger version of me would’ve been frustrated, annoyed — all the things. I gave myself about 30 seconds to feel those feelings, then moved on to figure out what we were going to eat instead. Once I let the emotions pass, I was able to frame it as an experiment that taught me something.

On to dessert! My daughter and I made this puff pastry with mascarpone, lemon curd, and berries for the second time. The first attempt? Mistakes were made. But it was delicious enough that we wanted to try again. This round was a definite improvement — and we’ve already got ideas for next time (egg wash + coarse sugar!).

One dish was a first attempt. One was a second. Both were experiments.

➡️ How can you apply this to a new skill you want to develop at work?
➡️How do you offer yourself grace when things go sideways?
➡️What motivates you to try again?