A successful bank president, about to retire, was being interviewed by a reported: “Sir, to what do you attribute your success?”

“That’s easy to answer: good decisions.”

“And to what do you attribute your good decisions?”

“That’s easier still: the wisdom gained from experience.”

“And where did you get that experience?”

“Easy again: learning from bad decisions.”

Source: David McNally, Even Eagles Need A Push, 1990, New York: Dell Publishing, p.4