How to stop making the same mistakes over and over again

By noticing your mistakes and understanding them, it is possible to change old habits. Using proper planning and by staying positive while you work towards your goal of avoiding making the same mistakes is the first step.

Don't fear failure

What often holds us back is our fear of failure. What if we make the same mistake again? If we live in fear, we will never get anywhere. Also be aware not to be over confident, that too can lead to a repeatable mistake. Being prepared to put ourselves out there knowing what we know, and watching for the signals that show up in the person who we are communicating with allows us to be more educated in our decision making process. It also allows for us to make better informed decisions with a smoother transition into both positive and negative outcomes.

"By seeking and blundering we learn." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

With personal relationships - it's the same. "I've done it again. I've chosen the wrong man once again." A familiar story to even me. I keep picking the same men, then I realise it and kick myself. What an idiot!!! Seriously, I could have learned the first time or the second time at least.

We shouldn't beat ourselves up over this one. We should learn and if we don't learn the first few times, change what we are doing and really focus on what we are looking for in people around us. Don't be afraid to get hurt over and over again - that's life, but if you can mitigate the pain - do so at all costs.

"Mistakes are like bad lovers, the more you learn from, the more you wish they'd never happened." Gregory David Roberts.

A bad lover or three, is something most people can attest to. You know what? Shit happens. We make mistakes. Work out the pattern and try to make a u-turn when you see the signs rather than continuing to step forward just in case this one is different.

In business, the same mistakes are almost inexcusable. Why? Our livelihood depends on it and if our business is of any significant size, we know that other people depend on us making better decisions that will impact the entire business in a positive way. If you are terrible at hiring, bring others in to hire for you or get your entire team to hire the people they would like to work with them.

If you are an over-spender. Stop. Be frugal. Only spend money when necessary. You don't have to have the biggest, flashiest office to be successful. In fact, the most successful people I know are humble. They don't have flashy offices and they keep it real. I try to do the same and for now, it works.