Making mistakes at work highlights areas for improvement, driving us to acquire new knowledge and abilities. The brain thrives on novelty; each error allows us to explore unfamiliar terrain, keeping our minds active and engaged.
As you can see from these learning quotes, growth doesn’t always mean smooth sailing.
When you are actively running your small business, you will make mistakes at work, right? I read a quote at 99 Signals that got me thinking about this more.
“Those who do a lot often make mistakes.”
Think about it: When you are not doing much, you are not bound to make mistakes.
Another quote there also sums it up nicely:
“If you don’t make mistakes, you’re not working on hard enough problems. And that’s a big mistake.” –
— Frank Wilczek
Oftentimes, a mistake is something you learn from. When you learn from something, you grow.
Table of Contents
Experience From Mistakes
Have you ever made a mistake so bad you wanted to hide under your desk? Yes, I’ve been there!
Misspelled words in a newspaper obituary made me feel that way. Another time, I misspelled good and typed in God. It changed the sentence around. There was no Grammarly tool back then.
So, if your business makes mistakes, it can learn from them and grow as well. Many times, businesses become agile when customers need more from them. This often results from a mistake or a new need in the marketplace.
You must be aware of this in order to address it and grow your business.
How To Spot Mistakes
If you don’t spot these mistakes, it can be a disaster for your business. If you begin to blame others for something – look down deeper. Are you managing them?
Maybe if you stayed on top of what was happening, mistakes would not have happened. Did you hire the right person?
According to Life Hacker, “ The kind of mistakes you make define you. The more interesting the mistakes, the more interesting the life.”
First, you must admit you made a mistake. Then, of course, you must apologize for the mistake. It takes courage to own up and apologize, but it helps you move past the mistake.
What Can Be Better?
Now, do you know what can be better than your mistake? That is the big question and lesson to learn along the way. You must analyze what went wrong. What was the actual error?
For example, when I started my business, I charged a low rate for services. I became frustrated because I was spending so much time on these services for clients, and it was hard to raise their rates.
As time went on, I began charging more for new clients and adding more for current clients to make enough for the time I was spending.
Once I took charge of my rates, I felt I was a valuable asset. I could also spend more time with clients, outsource some work, and provide better services. It was a win-win lesson from my mistake.
Why Making Mistakes Is Good For Your Brain
Making mistakes is crucial for brain development and growth. When we err, new neural pathways are formed, strengthening existing connections.
This rewiring process enhances problem-solving skills and cognitive flexibility. Embracing failures fosters a growth mindset, transforming challenges into opportunities.
Mistakes highlight areas for improvement, driving us to acquire new knowledge and abilities. The brain thrives on novelty; each error allows us to explore unfamiliar terrain, keeping our minds active and engaged.
Ultimately, a willingness to make mistakes cultivates resilience and adaptability – invaluable assets in our ever-changing world.
Get Over Your Fear of Making Mistakes At Work
Albert Einstein said, “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”
― Albert Einstein
Once you get over the fears of making mistakes at work you can grow. You will try new things, test things and learn what works best. You learn by doing!
I didn’t close my business because I was not making enough money. However, I improvised and tested new rates with new clients until I reached the right amount of work and pricing.
I learned from the mistake at work and adjusted along the way. You can learn from making mistakes, too.
How To Stop Making Mistakes At Work
- Slow down
- Do one thing at a time
- Keep track of patterns
- Have a to-do list
Aside from getting over your fear of making a mistake, slow down. Take your time when working on projects, and always double-check your work.
Learn From Your Making Mistakes At Work
You could even triple-check it to avoid making mistakes at work in the future.
That’s why business owners need to learn from their mistakes early on. Of course, you can learn from others’ mistakes as well. Learn as much as you can from other similar businesses.
You can join Masterminds, a Chamber of Commerce, BizSugar Community, or any networking group nearby.
Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
– Franklin P. Jones
Another way to learn from others’ mistakes is to read and engage in blogs like this. There is enough information online today that anyone can surely learn many lessons.
Your Turn on Making Errors At Work
How do you handle making mistakes at work today? Can you admit to them quickly and move on? It could transform your life!
I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.
Why Mistakes Help Your Small Business Grow: Frequently Asked Questions
How can making mistakes help my business grow?
Mistakes are opportunities to learn. They show you what’s not working, helping you pinpoint areas that need improvement. Each pushes you closer to a better process, product, or strategy. Growth stems from trial and error—not getting everything right the first time.
Won’t mistakes hurt my reputation with customers?
Mishandled mistakes can harm your reputation, but how you respond matters more. Owning up, apologizing, and fixing the issue builds trust with customers. People appreciate honesty and effort far more than perfection.
How do I know if I’m learning enough from my mistakes?
You’re learning if you’re analyzing what went wrong, identifying the root cause, and making changes. Patterns of repeated errors could mean you’re missing a more significant issue. Take time to reflect and document lessons from each mistake.
What are some common business mistakes to watch out for?
Overpromising to clients or customers, trying to grow too fast too soon. Others are mismanaging cash flow or avoiding risk altogether. Recognizing these ahead of time can help you plan smarter.
Are making mistakes at work different from making big ones regarding business growth?
Both can teach you something valuable. Small mistakes often help refine processes, while big ones can reveal gaps in planning or strategy. The key is addressing them before they snowball into more significant problems.
What’s the long-term benefit of learning from mistakes?
Mistakes build resilience and improve your decision-making. Over time, you’ll develop systems and skills that make your business more agile and adaptable. It’s a process that ultimately strengthens your foundation for success.
I watched a documentary on Elon Musk last night Lisa. Amazing guy.
I just discovered the other day that he was worth $300 billion dollars and is the richest man in the world. I only knew his success. But this documentary refilled all of his truly Titanic failures, some absolutely massive mistakes.
He almost lost all of his money after he made billions of dollars. He was voted out of PayPal, the company he founded, just like Steve Jobs was voted out of 🍏. Every successful entrepreneur makes mistakes. The best one simply learn from them and move on.
Super inspiring post my friend. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Ryan, I love following Elon. He is so amazing. He made more money than Warren Buffet did in his LIFETIME! I think he should run our country 🙂 Many people who are super successful went bankrupt first and lost everything. I think that’s why the show Schitt’s Creek did so well. I’ve just discovered it on Netflix for bing watching 🙂 Thanks for your input on this Ryan and make it a great day with a few mistakes along the way!