In this video, Sarah challenges the common belief that it’s acceptable to make a mistake only if you learn from it the first time. She argues this expectation is unrealistic and unhelpful — it’s the same as saying “just be better immediately.”

Drawing from her experience as a combat helicopter pilot, she explains that learning is rarely a one-and-done event. People often need to hear the same lesson, feedback, or correction multiple times before it truly sinks in and changes behaviour.

Sarah encourages leaders and teams to become a “broken record” – patiently and consistently repeating the right messages, debriefs, and corrective actions. She stresses that true learning from mistakes comes through repetition and reinforcement, not perfection after a single error. This approach builds a more compassionate, realistic, and effective learning culture.