Freakonomics Radio

How to Succeed at Failing, Part 4: Extreme Resiliency (Update)

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May 21, 2025
In this discussion, Gary Klein, a cognitive psychologist known for his work on wicked problems, and Theresa MacPhail, a medical anthropologist focused on pandemics, dive into the intricate lessons failure can teach us. They explore tuberculosis as a contemporary challenge, emphasizing its underestimated threat. The duo highlights the power of pre-mortems in decision-making, advocating for openness to failure in organizations. They also discuss resilience in entrepreneurship, illustrating how the Museum of Failure enables learning and growth from setbacks.
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INSIGHT

Adaptive Mistranslation in TB Bacteria

  • Tuberculosis bacteria use moderate errors in protein synthesis to innovate and resist treatment.
  • This "adaptive mistranslation" makes the bacteria more resilient rather than harmed by errors.
ADVICE

Use Pre-Mortems to Spot Risks

  • Use pre-mortem exercises to imagine project failure and surface hidden risks early.
  • Certainty of failure in the exercise boosts honest critique and improves plans.
ANECDOTE

Junior Officer Saves Project

  • A junior captain identified a major technical flaw during a pre-mortem that others missed.
  • His insight saved a critical Air Force software project from likely failure.
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