Being an HR and Talent Acquisition Exec has taught me that careers are rarely built on perfection. The moments that have shaped me most were the ones where I acknowledged a misstep, owned it completely, and used it as an opportunity to build stronger relationships, make better decisions, and grow as a leader.

My mistakes were not mistakes... they were redirection sending me off to an even greater purpose and fulfillment.

Sometimes the consequences of a mistake aren't immediate, and if that's the case, it may have been completely unconscious but still real. That's why it must be reviewed, acknowledged, and addressed by offering the affected party the best possible solution so they feel fully satisfied.

The promotion I didn't get taught me more than many of the ones I did. After our fifth supervisor in less than a year resigned, the team had an opportunity to select new leadership. I assumed my qualifications would speak for themselves; they didn't. Someone else stepped forward, claimed the opportunity, and gained the title, salary increase, and career momentum that came with it. That experience taught me this: your career is your responsibility. Raise your hand. State your ambition. Put your ego aside, accept that you won't know everything, and step up anyway.

One of the biggest mistakes I made in my business was retiring a product that was actually working. Early on, I created a course that sold well. But as my expertise grew, I started working with more established business owners. I convinced myself that the course was no longer worth the time and energy because it wasn't for my "ideal" client anymore. I was looking at it completely wrong. What I failed to realize is that the audience for that course didn't disappear. They were simply at an earlier stage than the clients I serve today. That course could have become an evergreen product generating passive income while introducing people to my way of thinking. It could have nurtured buyers for months or years before they were ready for my higher-level programs. In other words, it wasn't just a course. It was the front door to my entire business. I still use that material with coaching clients when it's appropriate, and getting it back into the market has been sitting on my to-do list for far too long. If I were building my business again, I would have done things very differently. I would have made that course evergreen, built systems around it, and assigned a team to keep improving and marketing it while I focused on serving my more advanced clients. Sometimes the products you outgrow are exactly what your future customers need. Don't retire something just because you've moved beyond it. Ask yourself whether you've outgrown it... or whether you've simply moved to serving the next stage of the customer journey. There's a big difference.

The mistake I thought would end everything are my daily challenges with being a female writer but I continue moving forward. "I believe in myself when others do not."

Never mistake being behind the scenes for being on the sidelines.

The mistake was thinking survival was the destination. Healing taught me it was only the beginning. For years, the mistake I made was believing that because I was functioning, I was healed. I had become very good at surviving, carrying pain, showing up for others, and continuing to move forward but I had not fully confronted what my past was still costing me. Taking responsibility did not mean taking blame for what happened to me. It meant taking responsibility for what happened next. I had to stop allowing unhealed wounds to make decisions for my future. That realization changed everything. I began doing the deeper work of healing, reclaiming my voice, establishing boundaries, and understanding that my past could explain parts of my story without being allowed to define my identity. What I once thought would derail my life ultimately became part of what prepared me to help others heal. I learned that sometimes growth begins when we stop asking, "Why did this happen to me?" and start asking, "What am I going to do with what I survived?"

Recently I made the mistake of not putting my mental health above my need for money. The job market has become saturated with experienced people looking for jobs. As a result it took me 2 years to find a job doing something I have 7 years experience doing in the past. Then when I started my boss watched over my desk remotely all day and consistently called, interrupting my work to ask what I was doing or provide input that created a distraction. I did not take breaks but my production went down in the last month I was there because of the constant interruptions and quality of work I was given. She would tell me I made errors and insist we discuss them in our 1 on 1 but when I asked for the information in advance to prepare for the meeting, she always had an excuse for why I did not get it. The 2 times when I did receive the errors before our weekly meeting, they were either not true errors or a matter of nursing judgment vs a true error. It was so bad I was written up for as simple as coming to work 30 minutes early and for answering a phone call that came in at 5pm which resulted in 18 min overtime she stated that I did not get approval in advance. I was not allowed any time to read emails or look at policies unless I asked her for permission. Things like this made the work environment very volatile and toxic. Instead of walking away, I stayed, and the longer I was there, the more anxious I became. I had trouble sleeping at night and felt sick when it was time to go to work. My focus was not there because every time she called it broke my spirit and my production was affected. Eventually she created a paper trail and fired me, which was the first termination I have received in my entire work career. I knew I should have resigned as soon as I realized the type of person I was working for however, I let my fear of being unemployed force me to stay and created unnecessary trauma for myself. I now understand that this was not the job for me because I slept the whole night after being fired, but could not sleep while I was there. The lesson I learned is never to stay where you are not happy or wanted. Step out on faith and do what is best for you and your career. I chose to share this story because I know my story is not much different than a lot of people out there. It's important to remember that people can only do what you allow them to. I will never again let someone treat me so poorly out of fear. I deserve to be happy, even if that means finding alternative means of income until I can find a job within my career path.

I spent years believing my value was in being the technical expert in the room. The moment I let that go, I found what actually fits me, being the translator who helps others cross the bridge. Purpose isn't the title you hold. It's the number of people you help get unstuck.

One of the greatest mistakes I made was believing that being a strong leader meant carrying every responsibility myself. I said yes too often, hesitated to ask for help, and placed unrealistic expectations on myself. Eventually, I realized this approach was unsustainable and could have undermined the very work and relationships I cared so deeply about. Taking responsibility meant acknowledging that I needed to change, not blaming my circumstances or the people around me. I learned to establish healthier boundaries, communicate more openly, delegate, and trust others to contribute their strengths. What once felt like failure became an important turning point in my leadership journey. That experience taught me that strength is not measured by how much we carry alone. It is demonstrated through self-awareness, humility, and the courage to grow. Today, I lead with greater balance and compassion, remembering that our mistakes do not have to define or derail us. When we take responsibility for them, they can become some of our most powerful teachers.

One of the biggest mistakes I made early in management was thinking I had to have all the answers. I learned that mistakes don't define you: how you take responsibility, learn from them, and grow does. That experience taught me to be more confident, adaptable, and comfortable with the gray areas of leadership.

Then I began having seizures. I couldn't drive, had a million doctor's appointments, and overall felt defeated and hopeless. I quit my job, got on unemployment and medicaid, and kept writing. Writing was all I had left. Then a unique opportunity fell into my lap and I seized it, not knowing what the future would bring.

Graduating early felt like the decision that ruined the future I had spent years preparing for. I left college at 20 without the prerequisites I needed to pursue the graduate program and career I had carefully planned, and for a long time, I saw that change as a failure. Eventually, I realized that taking responsibility for my future didn't mean regretting the decision I had made, it meant accepting that my original plan was no longer the only path forward. I began exploring new opportunities, which ultimately led me to nonprofit work and a career I never could have imagined for myself. What I eventually realized was that I hadn't ruined my future-I had only changed it.

Did you ever say something unfortunate when you thought you were on mute? I have! What I said is not worth repeating, but the step I took to get my stature in the positive with my peers and leadership was a good decision that is worth knowing. Call yourself out, I called (not a text, not a DM) our leader the next day, the one above my immediate boss, reiterated my mistake (which was to have a counter opinion to the direction we were provided) and explain that there are times we have to carry out missions that we wouldn't personally have chosen or believe in, but I understood that part of being on a team and respecting leadership decision making and goals, means I follow the guidance and execute the mission as directed (offering feedback as appropriate). Feedback, not push-back. Never confuse the two (especially when you're on a call)!