Mike DomitrzPresident, Author, and Speaker on Respect, The Center for Respect, Inc. · Author & Speaker on Respect for Schools, Corporations, & the Military since 1990 (has reached

None of us are perfect. #centerforrespect #mikedomitrz #perfectlyimperfect #learning #growing

6 Dec 2024 · 1 min

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In this motivational monologue, the speaker explores the deep‑seated fear that drives people to prove themselves right, linking it to a desire for perfection and an avoidance of failure. They argue that true humanity lies in acknowledging our fallibility—being "perfectly imperfect"—and that making mistakes is an essential part of growth, even if we sometimes repeat them. The speaker condemns self‑criticism as cruel, emphasizing that we are not robots. Finally, they suggest that one of the most valuable lessons we can impart to young people is to intentionally take risks that may lead to failure, using those experiences as learning opportunities.

Chapters

The reason people are trying to prove themselves right is a fear that if they're not right, somehow being wrong is to fail. And therefore I can't be wrong 'cause then I fail and I cannot fail. I must be perfect. And 'cause if I'm not perfect, then there's a lack versus, oh, I'm perfectly imperfect. Like, like every day I look in the mirror, it is what it is. I am the farthest thing from perfect, but that's the perfect part of human existence actually, is that I'm fallible. I am gonna make mistakes and I'm gonna learn from those mistakes. Sometimes I'm not gonna learn. I'm gonna make 'em again. It's part of the journey. To beat myself up is to be cruel, to expect myself not to be human. We're not robots. And so one of the greatest things we can do for young people is, how did I take risks today that allowed me to fail?