The Biggest Mistake I Made in My Career

"The Biggest Mistake I Made in My Career"
Looking back, one of the hardest lessons I learned was about resisting change. I was so focused on staying in my lane, following the “right” path, that I missed out on chances to grow in ways I never imagined.

I still remember when I was offered a chance to lead a data analytics project. Honestly, I was scared. I had little experience and felt totally out of my depth. Instead of leaning into the challenge, I played it safe. I stuck to what I knew, convincing myself that I was not ready.

It was not until much later that I realized my fear of stepping outside my comfort zone was the only thing holding me back. When I finally decided to embrace the unknown (in my current role), I found a passion for data analytics & leadership that I hadn’t even known existed.

Here’s what I learned -

1. Change Is Inevitable - You can either fear it or embrace it. If I could go back, I’d tell myself to choose the latter.

2. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone - The best opportunities often look scary at first. If fear stops you from trying, you’ll never know what you’re missing.

3. Keep Learning - The world is always changing, and if we stop learning, we stop growing. Stay curious.

Looking back now, I see that careers are not just about climbing a ladder - they are about taking chances, learning from mistakes, and growing along the way.

What is one mistake you have learned from in your career ? I’d love to hear your stories :)

P.S. Hi, I am Arpita Rawal, Team Leader for the BI & Data team. I regularly share job opportunities to support job seekers and offer insights on job searches and career growth. If these topics interest you, feel free to follow along for updates and practical tips based on my experiences.