Be honest- Have you ever made a mistake that has cost you everything?
The answer is: I have!
Mistakes are a part of life; everyone knows that, but have you ever made it twice?
The answer is: I have!
Today, I’m pulling back the curtain on the three biggest mistakes that sabotaged my success, not once, but twice, and how you can avoid them before it's too late.
Back in April 2016, something happened that I’ll never forget. I met a colleague during one of our company’s team meetings. We weren’t close; we worked in different branches in different cities, but we crossed paths now and then during trainings or head office meetings. He was sharp, curious, and incredibly enthusiastic about one thing in particular: Bitcoin.
Cryptocurrency was starting to make waves back then, and Bitcoin had just started gaining attention beyond tech circles. The price at the time? Around $400 to $500.
Knowing I was a tech enthusiast and always playing around with websites and digital tools, my colleague repeatedly encouraged me to invest.
“You should get into Bitcoin,” he said. “This is the future. Don’t miss it.”
I was curious, sure, but hesitant. I kept thinking:
“I’ll wait a bit. Let me see where this goes. I’ll jump in once I’m sure it’s real.”
So I waited for the perfect moment.
And the price kept climbing.
A few months later, Bitcoin skyrocketed to $6,000–$7,000.
My jaw dropped.
I thought, “I should have listened.”
But then, just as quickly, within a few months, the price crashed back to around $1,300.
Instead of learning from the missed opportunity, I let fear win again. I told myself,
“See? It was a scam all along. I was right not to invest.”
I walked away, again.
Today, as Bitcoin continues to make headlines and reach all-time highs, I look back and realize: I didn’t just miss an investment. I missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Not because I didn’t have the information. Not because I wasn’t interested. But because I was waiting for the perfect moment.
And here’s the truth:
There is no perfect moment.
The “right time” you’re waiting for may never come. Opportunities rarely show up with a signboard saying “This is it!” More often, they come disguised as risks.
Don’t wait until you’re 100% sure.
Don’t wait for guarantees.
Don’t wait for the stars to align.
If something speaks to you, if it feels right, lean in.
Do your research, take a calculated risk, but don’t stand still.
Because inaction is also a decision.
And sometimes, it’s the costliest one you can make.
There was a time when I had a clear vision.
I had an idea for a tech-driven service, a platform that could solve a real problem in the construction industry by connecting clients, contractors, and suppliers without the middleman. I believed in it. I even started planning the design, features, and how it would work.
Then, I made the mistake of asking the wrong people for advice.
Some said:
“That’s too ambitious.”
“Who’s going to trust a website to do that?”
“It sounds too risky. You should just focus on your job.”
And I listened.
I shelved the idea. I convinced myself they were right, that I was just daydreaming, that I didn’t have the capital or experience to pull it off. I let the fear of judgment outweigh my own conviction.
Months passed. Then years. And slowly, I started seeing others doing it—not the exact same idea, but close enough. New platforms popped up solving the same problem I had identified years ago.
They weren’t smarter. They didn’t have more experience. But they had the courage to trust themselves.
That’s when it hit me:
I had let the voices of others become louder than my own.
If I had just started small, tested the waters, and trusted my gut, who knows where that idea would be today?
Not everyone will see what you see.
Not everyone will understand your vision. And that’s okay.
Stop asking permission to follow your own path.
Constructive feedback is important, but only from those who have walked a similar path, taken risks, and built something real. Everyone else is just guessing.
If you have an idea, pursue it. Learn as you go. Don’t wait for applause or approval; it may never come.
Here’s a tough truth I learned the hard way:
I used to believe I had to do everything myself.
I thought asking for help was a sign of weakness. I convinced myself that if I want it done right, I have to do it myself. So I dove into projects, websites, digital tools, side businesses, wearing every hat: designer, developer, marketer, support.
At first, it felt empowering. I was learning fast, making progress. But soon, the cracks started to show. I was burned out, frustrated, and constantly falling behind. Deadlines slipped. Motivation dipped. I was spread too thin.
One project I started, a small online marketplace—had real potential. I knew it could scale if I just kept going. But because I refused to ask for help, I couldn’t handle the growth. I was chasing perfection, juggling too many roles. Eventually, I abandoned the whole thing.
And here’s the irony:
There were people willing to help.
Friends, freelancers, even interns who believed in what I was building. But I never asked. I thought I had to be the hero of the story.
You don’t have to do everything alone.
And you shouldn’t.
Success is a team sport.
The right people can help you move faster, stay focused, and grow beyond what you thought was possible. Outsource what you can. Collaborate when it makes sense. Ask for help when you need it.
Your job is not to do everything, your job is to make sure everything gets done.
Written by Krishna Murthi, a top business leader with over 25 years of experience in creating productive teams.
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