Neil passionately discusses the importance of embracing failure in education. Drawing from his own experiences and interactions with students, Neil challenges the traditional mindset of avoiding failure at all costs. He emphasises the value of making mistakes, learning from them, and using failure as a stepping stone towards excellence. Neil shares anecdotes about disrupting the education system to encourage creativity and growth, advocating for a more holistic approach to teaching and mentoring. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Encourage Failure: It is important to encourage students to fail without consequence, as failure is a necessary precursor to excellence.

• Subvert Failure-Based Mindset: As tutors and mentors, it is crucial to subvert the failure-based mindset imposed by systems focused on compliance and fear.

• Disrupt Fear of Failure: Disrupt and destroy the conditioned fear of failure in students to promote progress, achievement, and learning.

• Break the Rules: Breaking the rules and encouraging students to do things badly can lead to improvement and growth.

• Think Independently: Emphasise the importance of thinking independently and pursuing personal theories and opinions, rather than conforming to prescribed guidelines.

BEST MOMENTS

"The system wants our kids to become compliant little workers. Back in the day, compliant little factory workers. These days, compliant little office workers to keep their heads down, to be watchful and not to screw up ever." 

"I say nuts to that. I say that we as tutors and mentors have a duty to subvert that failure-based mindset." 

"Every master was once a disaster. Every winner was once a beginner." 

"If all that's taught is the test, the school is just a hoop-jumping factory." 

"We, you and I, my fellow free spirits and shooters, are duty bound to disrupt and destroy that conditioned fear of fucking up." 

VALUABLE RESOURCES

www.Neilcowmeadow.com

[email protected] 

HOST BIO

Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS!