In today’s edition, I want to share a technique I learned at school as a teenager—one that somehow slipped out of my routine as life became faster and more demanding.
Recently, I noticed a frustrating pattern: I was repeating the same mistake. Again and again. It started to feel like I was doomed—that it was simply my nature and there was no way out.
Then I remembered something we used to do at school. We had a simple but powerful task: Work on Mistakes.
Here’s how it worked:
1. Make a clear note of the mistake
Be specific. Not vague, not emotional. Write down what exactly went wrong.
2. Write down the reason
This is where honesty matters. Was it carelessness? Lack of preparation? Assumptions? Distraction? This step forces you to confront the cause, not just the outcome.
3. Decide what you will do differently next time
This turns reflection into action. Without this step, awareness alone doesn’t lead to change.
Write it down by hand. Not on a phone or laptop. Handwriting engages the brain differently and helps the lesson stick.
What makes this exercise so powerful is its simplicity. It interrupts autopilot behaviour. Instead of letting mistakes blur into a general feeling of failure, it separates them, examines them, and turns each one into a lesson.
Making a mistake once is not the problem - repeating the same mistake is. I believe this is the biggest mistake of all.
Change doesn’t always require complex systems or drastic decisions. Sometimes, it begins with a pen, a moment of honesty, and the willingness to learn from what went wrong.
Warmly,
Olga Smith