{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"S8 Ep.207 Lessons From Our Biggest Mistakes","description":"As this year comes to a close, I wanted to have a very honest conversation\u2014one rooted in experience, not perfection. In this episode, I\u2019m reflecting alongside another seasoned firm owner, Katie Decker Erickson, on the mistakes we\u2019ve made, the lessons we learned the hard way, and what actually matters when you\u2019re trying to move your business forward with clarity instead of chaos. This isn\u2019t about beating yourself up for what didn\u2019t work. It\u2019s about looking back clearly\u2014without ego or shame\u2014so you can recalibrate your direction, trust yourself again, and make smarter decisions as you head into 2026. In this episode, I talk about: Why you can\u2019t change direction in your business without honestly looking in the rearview mirror How growing just for the sake of growth often leads to stress, misalignment, and regret Why busyness, headcount, and \u201clooking successful\u201d can hide deeper operational problems The real cost of ignoring your intuition\u2014and why it always shows up eventually How intuition becomes powerful when it\u2019s supported by data, not separated from it Why avoiding your numbers only creates bigger problems down the road What I call the \u201ctoll of the soul,\u201d and why some profitable work still isn\u2019t worth it How letting go sooner\u2014clients, projects, models, or people\u2014can lead to faster alignment Why leadership requires hard conversations, not avoidance How reflection is meant to recalibrate your business, not keep you stuck in regret This episode is for designers who know something needs to change\u2014but don\u2019t want to burn everything down to make it happen. My hope is that this conversation helps you look at your business with more honesty, more confidence, and a lot more self-trust as you step into what\u2019s next. You don\u2019t need to have all the answers for 2026 right now. But you do need to be willing to look clearly at where you\u2019ve been\u2014so you can choose where you\u2019re going on purpose. If you\u2019re ready to move forward with clarity instead of guesswork, this episode is for you. ","author_name":"Designed for the Creative Mind\u2122","author_url":"https:\/\/thedesignbakehouse.com\/designed-for-the-creative-mind-pod","html":"