U.B.E. - Ugly But Effective

U.B.E. is the perfect acronym to describe my golf game, which often includes a not-so-strategic bounce off the cart path to land the ball on the green. U.B.E. also defines my first apartment, where the sitting area consisted of four hand-me-down couches and not a single chair. And U.B.E definitely describes my futile attempts at sewing…when I creatively use Scotch® tape to hem a pair of pants rather than fumbling with a needle and thread. All of these situations lacked beauty and refinement, but at the end of the day, they all got the job done.

So why do I choose to publicly air my inadequacies for all to see? The answer is that I have come to embrace the Ugly But Effective methodology. It gives me permission not only to enjoy activities that I may not be particularly good at, but also gives me a bit of a break when my confidence is waning. The truth is, I will never play on the LPGA, live in an Ethan Allen showroom floor home, or pick up sewing as a hobby. However, that doesn’t mean I avoid these things or stop finding creative alternatives.

I often talk to young professionals and even seasoned peers who struggle with trying something new or overcoming obstacles. They want to know the exact steps to take so that their outcome is predictable and perfect. The idea of failing forward and getting a little off course along the way can be debilitating. Therefore, they choose to play it safe, which in many cases deprives them of seizing opportunities that are sitting directly in front of them.

The "beauty" in being willing to be a bit “ugly” is that it often provides a great path for personal development. Our first attempts may be a bit disjointed and awkward. With a little practice, a little forgiveness, and a healthy dose of desire, we may just find ourselves turning from a duckling in to a swan.

Comments

[Dad]

I think it might have been interesting to use the phrase: The idea of flailing forward rather than
"The idea of failing forward