Seek to Misconstrue + a
Failure: The Blog 
August 2018
- When This Executive Was Fired, He Took Charge
- Obeying The Speed Limit Has Never Been More Fun
- London Black Cabs Helped Uber Grow
- Bette Graham Created A Product To Fix Her Mistakes
- Flamin' Hot Cheetos Had An Interesting Start
July 2018
- Fear This Instead Of Failure
- Re-Releasing Songs Created Success
- A CEO's Purposeful Mistake
- The Tardy Student And The Unsolvable Problem
- Fixing Potholes Through Graffiti
June 2018
- A Surprising Mistake In The Oxford English Dictionary
- US Army Embraces Mistakes
- Blocking A Hymn
- Eddie Shore Was Truly A Tough Guy
- [Video] Elon Musk Didn't "Pivot" He Failed
May 2018
- 8 Examples of Mental Toughness Part 2
- Necessity Turned Accessory: Allen Iverson's Sleeve
- This Doctor Has Continued To Fail
- 8 Examples of Mental Toughness
- MIT Accidentally Creates New Smelting Process
April 2018
- Johnny Cash Quit Singing Lessons
- Cruise Control Came Out of Frustration
- Time Spent Gaming Pays Off In The Navy
- Rock Around The Clock Was a Commercial Failure
- Sigmund Freud Should Have Been Discouraged
March 2018
A Positive Caused By Something Negative
Normally we think of an amplifier as being something used to to increase output. But it turns out one of the most important and successful types of amplifiers is one that uses gain as negative feedback to oppose the original signal.
The negative feedback amplifier was invented by Harold Stephen Black. While on his way to work, he scribbled out the now famous invention on a piece of The New York Times newspaper. Black submitted his invention to the U. S. Patent Office on August 8, 1928, and it took more than nine years for the patent to be issued. Black later wrote:
“One reason for the delay was that the concept was so contrary to established beliefs that the Patent Office initially did not believe it would work.”
Photo © Flickr User Orin Zebest
One reason the negative feedback amplifiers are so useful is that they tend to help stabilize signals. They act as a sort of electronic brake, reducing distortion and increasing overall control. When used correctly, it can create stability and help improve their operating characteristics.
Sometimes, something we think is a failure actually turns out to be a success!
