Trial and Error

I read the following recently.  "You can ignore your weaknesses, but you can't expect them to not impact you. The weakness of the coach shapes the players. The weakness of the teacher influences the students. The weakness of the parent moulds the child."
I think what Vincent Van Gogh said relates to this. “I am always doing what I can't do yet in order to learn how to do it”
I have often said I feel my weaknesses are less of a problem for me than my strengths.  By that I mean I am aware of my shortcomings and the need to work on them.  My strengths on the other hand it seems can give me a false sense of security.  I can be inclined to think “I’ve got this” when what I got is in reality far less than what is needed.
Yet I reckon my weaknesses can be my greatest asset.  Naturally they are embarrassing and I do not enjoy having inadequacies exposes.  But it seems to me I am more inclined to want to turn weaknesses into strengths rather than making strengths stronger.  That is one of the reasons I like what Van Gogh said.  Learning curves are a bit of a chore, but on the whole they are a rewarding chore.
To me it is not a waste of time to learn something only to learn it will never be used or needed.  What matters to me is the willingness to explore something as it is the way to know it is not for me.
I heard of someone who discovered in two weeks something was not for them.  Their motivation was that it is better to try and thereby find out, rather than to never try at all and die wondering.  It seems often finding what is wrong is one step closer to finding what is right.
For me there has been trial and error.  It takes a while, but the journey is meaningful along with the destination.