The Rule of Making Mistakes: Jackie Haynes on Rinsing Your Skills and Starting Over

What if the very thing you're trying to avoid—making a mistake—was actually the signal that it was finally time to rest?   In this week's conversation, I'm talking with artist Jackie Haynes. We talk about why the rigid discipline of adulthood often makes us fear the very "rinsing" of our skills that leads to new growth. From her more than seventeen years building an indestructible costume business in Manchester to her "handbrake turn" into a PhD in experimental art, Jackie shares why making mistakes is a fundamental part of the creative medicine we all need.   It’s an invitation to stop overthinking your way to a creative solution and start finding the creative oxygen that lets you breathe again.   I’m Nancy Norbeck, and I’m your Messy Muse Mentor. I help people feel alive again through curiosity and play.   In this episode, we discuss: The Mistake Rule: Why Jackie only allowed herself to stop working once she messed up—and how it saved her from burnout. The Handbrake Turn: Why closing a successful business to pursue art was an act of self-trust, not failure. Merz Pies: How Jackie uses local landscapes and found objects to tell stories through experimental art. The Power of Play: Why Jackie’s 800-costume inventory is now a hands-on archive for community research and curiosity. Ready to send your inner critic to summer camp for an hour? We get together once a month for a relaxed, co-working-style session where you can work on whatever you want—without any pressure to do it "right." We send the shoulds and inner critics off to summer camp where they're kept busy rather than getting in our way. Join the Creativity Circle.    Episode breakdown:   0:00 Introduction 1:33 A Creative Kid & The Orange Elephants 4:11 The "Mistake Rule": Working until it breaks 6:40 Starting the Costume Business in Pre-Digital Manchester 11:31 The Yellow Pages Advantage 15:24 Building an Indestructible Inventory 25:54 Digital Revolution vs. Accidental Discovery 33:38 The Handbrake Turn: Closing the Shop for an MA 38:54 What is an Art Practice-Based PhD? 45:41 Merz Pies and the Spirit of Kurt Schwitters 55:09 Making the Examiners Work for It (The Humor Section) 1:03:57 The Costumes as a Community Resource   Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in visual arts. Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and join us for the Follow Your Curiosity Creativity Circle. Please leave a review for this episode—it’s really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.