7 mistakes that cost me time, energy, and peace of mind
Read time: 6 minutes
We live in a culture that celebrates the highlight reel.
We hear all about the promotions, awards, funding rounds, big wins—but rarely about the failures and mistakes.
But across every stage of my career — as a doctor, strategy consultant, founder — I’ve noticed that the real growth is in the messy times; the mistakes and failures.
They feel hard at the time, but so often I’ve reflected back and seen that they were the moments that propelled me forward.
This week, I wrote a LinkedIn post about some of the biggest mistakes I’ve made, and it seemed to resonate.
Whether you're building a business, growing a personal brand, or figuring out your next move, these are the mistakes and lessons I learned the hard way:
1. Working too hard on the wrong thing
When I began working on my startup, I was full of enthusiasm but low on clarity. I spent too much time building and doing things without enough validation or direction, burning time, money, and energy in the process.
I learnt that direction is more important than speed. If you run full pace but in the wrong direction, you end up further from your goal.
Action: Test early, get feedback and iterate fast.
2. Hiring (and surrounding myself with) the wrong people
Early on, I made hires without thinking enough about alignment and values fit. It led to mismatched priorities and ultimately more stress.
And it’s not just about hires, it’s about who influences you. Whether it's advisors, friends or media we consume—the people around you shape your trajectory.
Action: Curate your circle. Surround yourself with people who support you, challenge you, and bring clarity.
3. Not building a personal brand
For too long, I was afraid to be visible. I thought it was self-indulgent and cringeworthy to post on LinkedIn, and didn't want to be judged.
What I now know is that personal brand is an incredible lever for business and career opportunities. It gives you visibility, and has been a big factor in my own personal successes.
Action: Don’t be afraid to share your insights, story, wins, failures. Here are some tips to get started.
4. Saying yes too often
The trap is thinking that saying yes to everything is a sign of ambition and commitment. In reality, it left me overwhelmed and stretched too thin.
I realised every "yes" is also a "no" to something else. So I cut back on the yes’s and started prioritising my time and energy more.
Action: If it’s not a “hell yes,” it’s a “no.” Protect your capacity like it’s your most valuable asset, because it is.
5. Neglecting my wellbeing
Startups, career pivots, the big ambitions—they all take a toll. For me, there have been times where sleep suffered, health suffered and I burnt out.
Eventually, I learned that you can’t build something sustainable when you feel depleted. And that taking care of yourself has to be part of the strategy.
Action: Make rest and wellbeing non-negotiable. Build systems, routines, and time offline that protect your boundaries.
6. Taking too much advice onboard
These days it’s easy to consume tons of content then find yourself overwhelmed with information, trying to implement too much at once, often conflicting or confusing advice.
I’ve learnt that the key is to filter everything you consume. Not every lesson applies to your stage, situation, or goals.
Action: Listen widely, but be selective in terms of what you implement. Filter and trust your own judgement.
7. Underestimating myself
This one is maybe the most important. I look back on so many moments I doubted myself or played small.
Then every time I stretch beyond what I think I’m capable of, I realised most of us operate at maybe 10% of our potential, and are capable of more than we think.
Action: Bet on yourself, set bolder goals, take the leap. More often than not, it pays off.
In summary
Let’s redefine “mistakes”: they are not a detour from the path, they are the path.
They shape you and move you forward if you’re willing to learn from them. Which one of these resonates most with you right now? Hit reply and let me know.
Hope that helps!
Speak soon,
Dupé
PS: Whenever you're ready, feel free to enquire about working together: Get guidance on how to be more visible and grow your brand. Whether you need 1:1 coaching or ready-to-post content, hit reply and let’s chat!
