August 3, 2023

Mistakes Are Not the Exception, They Are the Expectation

We need to distinguish between an operating environment and a test or experimental environment. It’s the difference between practice and the game. Each time we make a mistake, we learn about a cause and effect relationship. We learn what causes what. We learn what doesn’t work.

Episode Notes

Today's lesson:
Mistakes Are Not the Exception, They Are the Expectation

Key Points:
Do we want more mistakes, or fewer mistakes? We want the right kind of mistakes. We need to distinguish between an operating environment and a test or experimental environment. It’s the difference between practice and the game. Each time we make a mistake, we learn about a cause and effect relationship. We learn what causes what. We learn what doesn’t work. That’s experimentation, that’s  discovery, that’s exploration, that’s problem solving. We are expected to fail and learn when we experiment and practice. We can't be afraid to do so.

Today's key action:
Share your next mistake.

Episode Transcript

Why Most Leadership Advice Is Junk (and What Actually Works)

September 2, 2025
View Episode  →

Data or Die Trying: The Budget Survival Guide For L&D Leaders

August 19, 2025
View Episode  →

Trust vs. Psychological Safety: What Leaders Get Wrong

August 5, 2025
View Episode  →