Process of Elimination

It is amazing to me how things work out.  So often by discovering how not to do something I discover how to do it.
We have a vent on an air conditioning unit outside.  I would undo the screws and always wonder why the last one was so hard.  Then I was told that one is hard because it is bearing all the weight.  I am better off unscrewing all the screws halfway.  That way, all are partially undone before they need to bear any weight.  That makes the job so much easier.
Apparently Eddison when he was working on the light bulb did it wrong at least 400 times before he discovered the right way to do it.  Someone suggested that must be discouraging and of course it is when the goal remains elusive, but he did say something that to me resounds through the ages.  To me it is just as applicable now as it ever was.  He said something like “at least I have discovered how not to do it.”
I like that.  Of course I want to get it right.  First time every time would be good, but life tends to not be like that. 
Many before have been where I am though.  It is one reason why I am so against reinventing the wheel.  I often can discover a right way to do something as in most cases someone has been where I am and discovered a right way to go about things.  I should follow them.
Especially in this internet age, I can so often discover what is right simply by typing a question into my internet browser.  More often than not, up comes the answer.  I find it particularly un-necessary where a person keeps how to do things to themselves so someone following needs to basically start again when it comes to learning how to do something.  There are no doubt many reasons for keeping information oneself, but to me it is like the person is trying to make themselves indispensable.  Like it or not.  No one is.  In my case the day will come when it is said “Peter who?”
Fortunately, in most cases for the things I do, someone has been there done that.  When I have the time and inclination, I can look something up.  Often a video has been produced giving good instructions about how to go about something.  Where I do not have the access often someone with me knows the score and saves me time and effort.  At other times I am on my own and how to do something is a process of elimination.
Whatever the case, failures tend to make success sweeter.