SEPTEMBER 2026 - Mistakes: Turning Setbacks into Growth

Welcome back!

Mistakes are part of being human. They help us grow, learn social norms, and build life skills and experience.

What makes mistakes hard is that we are not normally taught how to deal with uncomfortable feelings that can follow—embarrassment, shame, or guilt. And no two mistakes are the same; how we respond depends on what happened, who saw it, and who was damaged.

So, what choices do we have after a mistake?

·       Ignore it and hope it fades.

·       Acknowledge it and apologize (especially if someone was injured).

·       Make amends by fixing what you can and learning what to do differently next time.

·       Ask for feedback or support if you’re unsure how to repair the situation.

I first learned about the book, From Mistakes to Meaning: Owning Your Past So It Doesn’t Own You while watching Fareed Zakaria’s CNN show on a Sunday in March. The episode included an interview with the two authors —Michael Lynton (former CEO of Sony Entertainment) and Josh L. Steiner (former Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of the Treasury).

In this book, the Authors share personal stories of their life-altering mistakes that became high-profile and were examined in the press. They explain how they responded at the time—and how, in hindsight, they now see those events differently. Key themes include:

·       What happens when private missteps become public?

·       How media attention shapes the narrative and consequences.

·       Practical and emotional approaches to repairing harm and rebuilding trust.

·       How their perspective on the same events changed over time.

In order for the Authors to better understand the pattern of serious mistakes and how they develop, they interviewed other people to share their mistakes and overtime they refined their own views. Their conclusion: serious mistakes are rarely “one-act plays.” As they write, “Each serious mistake involves a bad decision, but what happens before and after can prove even more important.”

The Authors noted most mistakes follow a simple pattern and by naming, understanding and focusing on the stages of mistakes you will be able to slow down your reaction. The stages are:

·       Act 1- Before: Notice signals, assumptions, or pressure leading you off track.

·       Act 2 - The Action: Make the choice (or misstep) and recognize its impact.

·       Act 3 - The lesson: Reflect, repair where needed, and decide what you’ll do differently. ..

The Authors recommend practicing these simple steps to reduce and prevent mistakes:

o   Pause: You don’t have to act at the moment.

o   Talk it through: Check in with someone before you act.

I agree—I’ve practiced similar habits; “pause before reacting and schedule a time to talk” and “pause and talk it through” help minimize mistakes.

I hope you’ll read this thoughtful book on why mistakes happen—and how we can keep from repeating them.

Looking forward to meeting you over a cup of coffee and conversation!

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