Built by Mistakes Podcast

Skip Thompson
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Management

Built by Mistakes is a podcast hosted by Skip Thompson — a green industry veteran sharing raw, honest lessons in leadership, resilience, and growth. Your mistakes don't define you — they build you.

  1. 6d ago

    The Cost of Keeping the Wrong Person Too Long

    Episode 12 — The Cost of Keeping the Wrong Person Too LongSometimes the biggest leadership mistake isn't hiring the wrong person—it's recognizing the problem and waiting too long to address it. In this episode of Built By Mistakes, we discuss why leaders hold on to employees who aren't the right fit, how those decisions affect team morale and company culture, and why loyalty and avoiding difficult conversations can sometimes get in the way of good leadership. In this episode: Why leaders delay difficult personnel decisionsThe hidden cost to your best employeesHow keeping the wrong person affects company cultureThe difference between a bad employee and a bad fitWhy loyalty shouldn't prevent necessary decisionsKnowing the difference between patience and avoidanceThe takeaway: Good leadership means giving people the opportunity to succeed, but also having the courage to make difficult decisions when something isn't working. Built By Mistakes — Lessons in Leadership, Resilience, and Growth 🌐 Website: builtbymistakes.com 📧 Connect with Skip: [your email or contact page] 🎙️ Built by Mistakes Podcast — Lessons in Leadership,  Resilience and Growth

  2. Oct 20

    Stop Trying to Make Everyone Happy

    Episode 11 — Stop Trying to Make Everyone HappyYou can't make everybody happy—and trying to do so can be one of the biggest mistakes you make as a leader. In this episode of Built By Mistakes, we discuss the difference between being liked and being respected, why saying yes to everyone can create bigger problems, and why good leadership sometimes requires making unpopular decisions. In this episode: Why leaders struggle with wanting to be likedThe difference between respect and approvalWhy saying no is sometimes necessaryHow avoiding difficult decisions affects your teamLeading with fairness, confidence, and integrityThe takeaway: Great leadership isn't about keeping everyone happy. It's about doing what's right, treating people fairly, and having the courage to make tough decisions. Built By Mistakes — Lessons in Leadership, Resilience, and Growth 🌐 builtbymistakes.com 🌐 Website: builtbymistakes.com 📧 Connect with Skip: [your email or contact page] 🎙️ Built by Mistakes Podcast — Lessons in Leadership,  Resilience and Growth

  3. Oct 12

    You Don't Have to Have All the Answers

    Episode 10 | Built By Mistakes One of the biggest mistakes leaders make is believing they have to know everything. When you're responsible for a team, a business, or an organization, there's pressure to always have the answer, make the right decision, and solve every problem. But great leadership isn't about knowing everything. It's about being willing to learn, ask questions, trust the people around you, and find the right solutions. In Episode 10 of Built By Mistakes, we explore why admitting "I don't know" can actually make you a stronger leader—and why surrounding yourself with people who have different skills and perspectives is one of the smartest decisions you can make. The Built By Mistakes Challenge: The next time someone comes to you with a problem, resist the urge to immediately provide the answer. Ask them what they think. Listen to their ideas. You may discover that the best solution comes from someone else. Built By Mistakes — Lessons in Leadership, Resilience, and Growth 🌐 Website: builtbymistakes.com 📧 Connect with Skip: [your email or contact page] 🎙️ Built by Mistakes Podcast — Lessons in Leadership,  Resilience and Growth

  4. Oct 5

    Accountability Starts With Clear Expectations

    Accountability Starts With Clear Expectations Episode Description: We hear it all the time in leadership: “People need to be held accountable.” But before holding someone accountable, there's an important question every leader should ask: Did I clearly communicate what I expected in the first place? In Episode 9 of Built By Mistakes, we look at the connection between clarity, communication, and accountability—and why leaders sometimes create frustration by expecting people to meet standards that were never clearly defined. In this episode, we cover: Why “they should know” is a dangerous leadership assumptionWhy what's obvious to an experienced leader may not be obvious to someone elseHow to make expectations specific and measurableWhy people need to understand the why, not just the whatA simple way to confirm that someone actually understood your directionWhy consistency matters when enforcing standardsThe importance of modeling the behavior you expect from othersThe difference between clarity and micromanagementWhen clear expectations need to become real accountabilityThe takeaway: Before asking why someone failed to meet your expectations, ask whether you made those expectations clear. Accountability isn't just about correcting people when they fall short. Good leadership means giving people a clear understanding of what success looks like—and a fair opportunity to achieve it. Built By Mistakes — Lessons in Leadership, Resilience, and Growth 🌐 Website: builtbymistakes.com 📧 Connect with Skip: [your email or contact page] 🎙️ Built by Mistakes Podcast — Lessons in Leadership,  Resilience and Growth

  5. Sep 28

    The Hard Conversations Most People Avoid

    The conversation you're avoiding today probably won't be easier tomorrow. Whether it's an underperforming employee, a struggling relationship, an unhappy customer, or a mistake you need to own, difficult conversations are part of leadership. Avoiding them may feel easier in the moment—but unresolved problems have a way of getting bigger. In this episode of Built By Mistakes, we talk about why leaders avoid hard conversations, what that avoidance costs, and how to approach difficult discussions with clarity, respect, and the willingness to listen. In this episode: • Why avoiding a conversation is still a decision • How small problems become big problems when nobody addresses them • Why clarity is better than vague feedback • How to address behavior without attacking the person • Why listening matters during difficult conversations • Why you shouldn't start the conversation when you're angry • The danger of saving months of frustration for one big confrontation • Why some of the hardest conversations begin with an apology • A simple five-step framework for approaching difficult conversations The takeaway: Great leadership isn't about avoiding conflict. It's about being willing to address reality respectfully, listen carefully, communicate clearly, and deal with problems before they become bigger ones. Ask yourself one question after listening: What conversation am I avoiding right now? Built By Mistakes — Lessons in Leadership, Resilience, and Growth 🌐 Website: builtbymistakes.com 📧 Connect with Skip: [your email or contact page] 🎙️ Built by Mistakes Podcast — Lessons in Leadership,  Resilience and Growth

  6. Sep 16

    Owning your Mistakes as a Leader

    In this episode of Built By Mistakes, we look at one of the most important—and sometimes most difficult—parts of leadership: taking ownership when you get it wrong. Why is saying “I was wrong” so difficult for some leaders? What happens to an organization when the person at the top constantly shifts blame? And how can owning a mistake actually increase the trust people have in you? In this episode: • Why accountability starts at the top • The difference between owning a mistake and beating yourself up over it • Why waiting too long can be a leadership mistake • How to apologize without making excuses • Why admitting you're wrong can build credibility instead of destroying it • How strong leaders turn mistakes into better decisions • Why your team needs permission to challenge you • The three steps of ownership: acknowledge it, learn from it, and change something The takeaway: Your people don't need a perfect leader. They need a leader who's willing to recognize a mistake, own it, learn from it, and become better because of it. Built By Mistakes — Lessons in Leadership, Resilience, and Growth 🌐 Website: builtbymistakes.com 📧 Connect with Skip: [your email or contact page] 🎙️ Built by Mistakes Podcast — Lessons in Leadership,  Resilience and Growth

  7. Aug 24

    Listening Isn't Waiting for your turn to talk

    Most leaders think they're good listeners — but there's a real difference between hearing someone and actually listening to them. In Episode 6 of Built by Mistakes, Skip Thompson breaks down why so many leaders "hear" their team without ever really listening, what that costs a business over time, and how to build the habit of actually letting what people tell you change your next move. This episode connects directly to the last two conversations — you can't delegate well if you're not listening to what your team is actually capable of, and you can't admit you're wrong if you never really heard the warning signs in the first place. Drawing on decades leading crews in the green industry, Skip shares what real listening looks like day to day, and why the leaders who listen best are usually the last to be surprised by a problem. 🌐 Website: builtbymistakes.com 📧 Connect with Skip: [your email or contact page] 🎙️ Built by Mistakes Podcast — Lessons in Leadership,  Resilience and Growth

  8. Aug 3

    Delegation Isn't Losing Control — It's Building a Team

    Why do so many leaders hold on to everything themselves, even when it's burning them out? In Episode 5 of Built by Mistakes, Skip Thompson breaks down why delegation isn't about giving up control — it's about building a team that can grow past you. Drawing on decades of leading crews in the green industry, Skip shares what real delegation looks like, why most leaders under-delegate, and how handing off the right task the right way can transform your team.  🌐 Website: builtbymistakes.com 📧 Connect with Skip: [your email or contact page] 🎙️ Built by Mistakes Podcast — Lessons in Leadership,  Resilience and Growth

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About

Built by Mistakes is a podcast hosted by Skip Thompson — a green industry veteran sharing raw, honest lessons in leadership, resilience, and growth. Your mistakes don't define you — they build you.

Information

  • Creator
    Skip Thompson
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Built by Mistakes Podcast
  • Show Website
    Built by Mistakes Podcast