The Power of Reflection and Learning from Mistakes

In 2016, I stumbled upon a little book at the New York Public Library that changed my life. It was called The Decision Book, and it was full of models designed to help map out your personality and plan your life. One model, in particular, inspired me so much that I've kept it on display in my living room for nearly a decade, regularly updating it as I complete each project.

The "Making-Of" model encourages us to reflect on every project by listing the main objective, the lessons learned, the obstacles overcome, the successes achieved, and the key people we met (see the graphic above). The simple act of collecting our mistakes as we go through each project helps us avoid repeating them in the future, enabling us to constantly improve. But this principle of learning from our mistakes is not just a modern concept—it has deep roots in Jewish wisdom, particularly in the practices surrounding the Korban Khatat, the sin offering.

Biblical Foundations: The Korban Khatat

In biblical thought, the concept of collecting one's mistakes is deeply rooted in the practice of the Korban Khatat, the sin offering. The Torah details a specific process for atonement, which involves three crucial steps: identify, collect, and diffuse.

First, you must identify or acknowledge your mistake, a process known as Viduy, by means of a sacrifice. The Viduy is a confession of sins, where you articulate your wrongdoings before G-d. This act of verbal acknowledgment is a powerful first step because it transforms an internal error into an external, actionable reality. As it says in Leviticus 5:5, "He shall confess the sin he has committed" (וְהִתְוַדָּ֧ה אֲשֶׁר־חָטָ֛א עָלֶ֖יהָ). This verse highlights the importance of recognizing and verbalizing one's mistakes as the initial step towards atonement and growth.

Next, the remains of the sacrifice are collected in a basket called the Mazrek (a receptacle or basket). The collection of these remains symbolizes the gathering of lessons learned from the mistake. It's not enough to simply acknowledge an error; one must also preserve the insights gained from the experience to ensure that it is not forgotten.

The Talmud offers further insights into the importance of reflection and learning from mistakes. In Berakhot 5a, the Sages discuss the idea that suffering and challenges can serve as opportunities for introspection and growth. The Talmud teaches that when we face difficulties, we should examine our actions to understand what might have caused the problem and what lessons can be learned. 

Rav Ami said, "If a person sees that afflictions are befalling him, he should examine his actions" (אָמַר רַב אַמִּי: אִם רוֹאֶה אָדָם שֶׁיִּסּוּרִין בָּאִין עָלָיו — יְפַשְׁפֵּשׁ בְּמַעֲשָׂיו). This teaching emphasizes the importance of self-reflection in the face of adversity. By examining our actions and identifying where we might have gone wrong, we can learn valuable lessons that prevent us from repeating the same mistakes.

Finally, the remains are diffused, spread at the four corners of the Mizbeah, the altar. This act represents sharing the lessons learned with the broader community, ensuring that others can benefit from the experience and avoid similar mistakes. Indeed, part of our growth process involves engaging with others, sharing our experiences, and learning from one another's successes and failures. The act of sharing our mistakes is a way to build community and collective wisdom.

The Torah commands this process as a way to cleanse the individual and the community, ensuring that the mistake is not repeated. Today, while we no longer perform physical sacrifices, we can still apply this process to grow personally and professionally. By identifying our mistakes, collecting them in a metaphorical basket, and sharing the lessons with others, we can transform our errors into the stepping stones of future success.

Biblical Story: David’s Census and the Plague

A powerful example of learning from mistakes can be found in the story of King David. In 2 Samuel 24, David orders a census of Israel and Judah, which angers G-d. This act, rooted in pride and a lack of faith in G-d's provision, leads to a devastating plague that kills 70,000 people. David quickly realizes his mistake, acknowledges it, and offers a sacrifice to atone for his sin. He collects his error, as it were, in the basket of his heart, and diffuses it by building an altar and offering burnt offerings and peace offerings to G-d.

The story of  David's census is a reminder that no one is immune to mistakes, not even those in positions of great power and responsibility. However, it also demonstrates the redemptive power of acknowledging our mistakes by confessing them, learning from them, and taking action to correct them. These steps are essential for personal and communal growth, allowing us to transform our failures into opportunities for deeper understanding and better decision-making in the future.

My Partnership with Deloitte

First, you must be able to identify your past mistakes. In 2014, I had a chance encounter with Dan Halpern of Deloitte which eventually led to a partnership between Deloitte and my start up. After establishing the partnership, weeks went by without the slightest murmur. We were assured that the product was being regularly offered to customers, but the partnership wasn't generating results. I first needed to identify the problem. There were many active client opportunities in the sales pipeline and the combination of "digital support + information management platform" made sense to the main stakeholders, so the problem had to lie in "product ownership" which meant the product wasn't being sufficiently promoted. To put it bluntly, without one person in charge of product adoption, the partnership was doomed to disappointment. My mistake was relying solely on a partner to distribute my product. 

Secondly, you need to keep track of your mistakes, or collect them, so as not to repeat them. Over the years, I've collected this and other mistakes in a poster on my living room wall (my Mazrek). As pictured below, for each and every project I've led, I've outlined what the measurable goal was. Then, I've listed the things I've learned from that journey. Next, I've added the obstacles I had to overcome throughout the process as well as the successes, the big milestones I've managed to hit. Finally, and most importantly, I've noted the awesome people I got to meet along the way.

Finally, diffuse your mistakes by sharing them with others. I recently undertook a project to do this on a larger scale. I’ve been compiling the lessons I’ve learned across sixteen aspects of my life journey and sharing them, one journey at a time in a series called "5 Business & Life Lessons" on LinkedIn. For example, one of the eighty lessons I’ve learned comes from my work as a sofer (scribe). As a scribe I've learned that you must take a methodical approach when writing a scroll with coded calligraphy. Every single letter requires between two and nine precise hand movements. Each movement must be done right, the patterns must be respected, and you must follow the correct order if you want the result to be perfect. I am able to share this lesson with my business colleagues because just as you must master the fundamentals and follow the right steps to succeed in calligraphy, the same is true in business. This means first addressing the pain you're trying to solve, then, finding your product market fit before working on product stickiness to optimize client retention, and only then, starting to test new products and opportunities.

Your Own Basket of Lessons

As you pursue your own goals, consider how you can adopt the biblical practice of identifying, collecting, and diffusing your mistakes. Whether through a journal, a chart like the one in The Decision Book, or another method, taking the time to reflect on what went wrong—and what went right—can help you avoid repeating the same errors and guide you toward greater success.

In doing so, you create your own "basket" of wisdom—a personal repository of lessons learned that can be revisited and shared with others. This practice not only helps you grow as an individual but also contributes to the collective knowledge and wisdom of your community. By embracing the process of identifying, collecting, and diffusing, you can transform your mistakes into valuable opportunities for growth and success.

— Lionel Benizri —

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