What if every mistake, every misstep, and every so-called wrong turn was actually leading you somewhere better? That’s the power of a no regrets mindset. In this episode, April Shprintz shares why she wouldn’t change a single thing about her past—and how you can reframe your regrets into lessons that fuel your success. Let’s dive in!
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Live A Life Of No Regrets
The No Regrets Mindset
I am so glad you’re here. I was recording an episode with someone and the last question they asked me was, “What about your life would you change from the past if you could?” My answer was, “Not a damn thing.” I loved having that answer because I realized that even the things that most people would say, “That was a mistake,” or that was something that you wish hadn’t happened brought me to where I am in my life so I wouldn’t change anything.
The reframe for you on that, on any regret that you think that you have, is that every mistake has taught you something that your life is better for because you made it. Every misstep and every decision that you might say, “I should have thought of the other thing,” or, “I should have done the other thing,” has led you here, and I do mean every mistake.
The Career Lesson: Asking The Wrong Question
One example is early in my career in front of the head of our division, I asked if every single person who was in that meeting was going to get a raise because we were all changing positions. I was young. I was not that smart. My boss had put me up to it at the time but I learned so much from it. I learned based on that leader’s reaction that you do not surprise people with questions like that. I learned based on the advice I then asked my mentor that you don’t ask a question that might not have the same answer for all the people in the room in front of a big group of people.
I also learned that if you go back as I did with that particular division head and say, “I made a mistake. I apologize. This is what I learned. I won’t do it again,” that leader will have a much better view of you. He ended up being a mentor of mine as well. That big mistake, which was the most mortifying thing that happened to me in my corporate career and 100% my fault, helped me become not only a better employee but a better leader. Every single wrong turn that I’ve made has ultimately brought me somewhere better.
Every single wrong turn I've made has ultimately brought me somewhere better. Share on XThe Air Force Decision
When I was much younger, I turned down a full-ride scholarship to a local school because I wanted to go to a school that was better known for broadcasting. Lots of people would’ve said that was a huge miss, but if I hadn’t done that, if I hadn’t found myself in a situation where I couldn’t pay to go to college, I never would’ve even considered the Air Force. Candidly, my time serving in the Air Force has taught me much more and made a much bigger impact on my life than getting my undergraduate or graduate degree. Had I not made that misstep or that mistake, I never would’ve done that.
While a lot of people want to focus on what they did wrong, how they messed things up, or how they would’ve been better if they didn’t, I like to focus on how they became better because they made that choice. No regrets. Think about this. Every bad relationship you’ve ever had helped you build your dream partner. Whether you’re with your dream partner or they are coming, every time you have something about someone that you experienced that you didn’t like, didn’t enjoy, or didn’t feel right to you, you start to form that picture of what does. We talk about this all the time. Mindset is the first step in manifesting because knowing what you don’t want from experiencing that helps you get clear on what you do want.
Mindset is the first step in manifesting because experiencing what you don’t want helps you get clear on what you do want. Share on XBased on all of those things, the fact that I learn so much every time I make a mistake and there’s a wrong turn or the fact that sometimes the “wrong turn” has taken me somewhere I never would’ve gone otherwise, or if it’s something I experienced that I didn’t like but it got me so much more clear on what I did want, I have no regrets. That’s such a fun way to live your life. I encourage you to reframe the way you look at the things in your life that you wish didn’t happen and look instead for what great thing came because that happened to you. Here’s to your success.
