When a lesson comes along, grab it!

I either win or learn, and I believe there's something to be taken away from every experience, good and bad. I set hugely ambitious goals and shoot for the moon, so I've had and will continue to have, plenty of these opportunities to learn.

As much as I've achieved many goals, I've also learned a lot. I've been sure something was a great idea, learning later it was not. For me, the big lessons, the ones that shape your future direction need to be felt. Sure, I could get the content by reading a book, listening to a podcast, attending a seminar, or chatting to someone about it, but for me, real learning comes from experience. There's nothing quite like experiencing a significant fuck up; you feel it in your gut, it's painful, and although the specifics might dull over time, that feeling will come rushing back at the moment you're presented with an opportunity to make the same mistake.

I believe there's nothing that teaches like experience, but that doesn't mean I need to be the one making all the mistakes. It is possible to learn from others; our partners get the benefit of my experience, and the lessons I've learned, and it stops us going over old ground. I'm approached almost daily by people pitching me business ideas and investment opportunities. Some opportunities look great and get my full consideration, whilst others cast up those memories of lessons learned, and I take a hard pass.

For Leanne and I, reviewing our progress and decisions is a vital part of our process. We look at everything, good and bad, and make sure we capture everything. We hold each other accountable for our actions, celebrate where we got it right, and log those lessons learned. We adjust our model, we set strict criteria, and we learn, however it amazes me that others don't. We've known people who've pitched the same idea again and again, even when it's been a disaster for them in the past. We've had colleagues, connections, family and friends ask for our advice, yet do the opposite. We call these folk Askholes, the ones that come for advice, but ultimately don't take it on board, return to their default doing what they've always done, yet are surprised when it never works out for them. They never learn.

We encourage our team to take risks, I encourage my kids to try things out, knowing they'll get plenty of things wrong. I could step in, offer my experience, and save them the trouble, but I'd be stealing their opportunity to learn and robbing them of an experience they'll remember the next time a similar thing comes up. I make sure to mark the moment and discuss the issue because making mistakes and learning is important, but making the same mistake more than once is ridiculous.

I push boundaries, knowing I'll either win or learn, and grab these opportunities as they come along. Leanne and I say "no" more than we say "yes" while looking at opportunities, knowing that some of the best deals we've ever done have been those we didn't do.

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