Calm in the Chaos: Why Mistakes Might Be Your Greatest Advantage

Ever found yourself spiraling after making a mistake? Yelling at your laptop? Cursing the furniture instructions that made “A” look like “B”? Been there. Recently, though, something changed—and it shocked even me.

I was on the phone with my ride-or-die best friend John, fixing a backend issue on my website. Now, years ago, this would’ve had me in full meltdown mode. But this time, I didn’t yell. I didn’t panic. I just...fixed it. When he said, “I’m proud of you,” I realized something powerful: all those past mistakes had taught me to stay calm.

Let me take you back.

I wasn’t always this grounded. I’ve cried over broken websites, lost hours to bad code, and burned through $5,000 on Google Ads with no return—because I didn’t know what I was doing. And that’s what people don’t tell you: being self-funded, especially in the art and creative world, comes with a pressure that magnifies everything. Every error feels like a failure. Every dollar feels like your last.

But here’s the plot twist: those errors were the blueprint for growth.

Years ago, I taught myself HTML. No formal training. Just me and my best friend, figuring it out with an online magazine. When that site crashed, I was crushed. But that heartbreak? It taught me resilience.

Fast-forward to today, and I’ve rebuilt—not just websites, but myself. From learning about SEO and schemas to embracing AI tools like ChatGPT to double-check code (shout out to my digital assistant!), I’ve evolved. And every mistake made me better at what I do.

Here’s what I’ve learned about mistakes:

1. Don’t react—reflect.
   Reacting emotionally clouds your judgment. Step back, breathe, and figure out the trigger. Why did it happen?

2. Accountability is power.
   Blame delays growth. Ownership accelerates it. I’ve learned to ask: “What could I have done differently?”

3. Mistakes = Mastery.
   No one becomes a pro without failure. Whether you're writing a book, coding a site, or building a business—screw-ups are part of the syllabus.

Back when I used to blog about dating, I’d rewrite the endings of messy stories, asking myself how things could’ve gone better. That habit—of reimagining outcomes—helped me rewire how I handle setbacks in life and business.

And let’s be real: putting together IKEA furniture is a metaphor for life. If you rush, skip instructions, and carry frustration into the process, guess what? You’ll mess it up. But slow down, take accountability, and use the right tools—suddenly, you’re not just assembling a dresser, you’re leveling up your mindset.

So the next time you screw up, I want you to remember this: mistakes are not stop signs. They’re streetlights. They’re guiding you toward becoming the version of yourself you’re meant to be.

From broken code to a calmer Corey, I’m living proof.

And as always, love yourself, believe in yourself, and trust yourself.