Robotic Vacuum Cleaners (Achievement Nudge about Learning from Failure)

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Last Updated on June 30, 2025 by Bill Truby

Are you as smart as a robotic vacuum cleaner? A lot of people, and a lot of companies I know…AREN’T!

There are robotic vacuum cleaners you can buy now that are brilliant. No, they can’t solve world hunger, nor can they predict where the stock market is going, but they can do THEIR job incredibly well, efficiently and without error. They even run to the wall and plug themselves in when their battery is getting low. How do they do this? They learn from failure. They never repeat a mistake.

When you place the vacuum cleaner robot on the floor and turn it on, immediately it goes to work. As the cleaner moves around the floor it will invariably run into the leg of a chair, a TV stand, a set of stairs or a wall. Now the fantastic thing is the robot never runs into the same thing twice. It never repeats a mistake. Better efficiency, ease of operation, and greater success come from these “mistake moments.” Here’s how it works.

When the robot makes a mistake by bumping into something, it LEARNS and doesn’t do it again…ever! The vacuum cleaner has a goal, a mission. If anything gets in the way of that mission, the vacuum cleaner learns never to let that happen again. A mistake or a momentary failure becomes a gift that leads to greater success. Human “vacuum cleaners” aren’t like that.

I’ve seen so many individuals, teams, departments, leaders and complete companies continue make the same mistakes over and over again. They’ll even complain about repeatedly making the same mistake, often blaming someone else for the repeated mistake. If the robot behaved like that, it would keep running into the same wall but rationalize its doing so by saying, “It’s YOUR fault, YOU put me in this room with walls!” Ludicrous, right? But common. All too common.

The Nudge is simple and clear. When you make a mistake or do something that doesn’t give you the result you want, learn from it. Ask yourself, “What caused it?” Get a clear understanding of where the wall is, what caused you to run into it, and what can prevent you from ever running into it again. Begin by finding the mistakes you repeatedly make, then focus on learning from every little mistake or turn-around you make throughout the day. If you learn from your mistakes, false starts, or actions that don’t give you the return you were looking for, it will be a great gift toward your success and happiness.

Oh…and don’t forget to model that other trick the robot vacuum cleaner performs – the one of running over to the wall to plug itself in when the battery is getting low. Take care of yourself. Only YOU can keep your batteries charged.

Now back to the sobering question…Are you smarter than a robotic vacuum cleaner? Check out whether or not you keep running into the same wall and the level of your battery. That will tell you.

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This article is part of our ongoing Achievement Nudge series—short, witty, and often inspirational articles to spark your personal and professional growth. Explore more nudges on our blog, or sign up for our weekly Nudge and News email. Each edition includes an Achievement Nudge plus leadership, professional development, and personal growth videos and articles to keep you inspired and on track.

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