I was recently reminded of this great quote by the jazz legend Miles Davis:

“If you hit a wrong note, it’s the next note that you play that determines if it’s good or bad.”

None of us gets it right all the time. We all hit the wrong note now and then—and thankfully, it’s rarely the end of the world.

Mistakes can be uncomfortable, but they’re also powerful teachers. What really matters is what you do next.

When I mess up, I come back to a simple mantra: own it, learn from it, and do better next time. Here’s what that looked like in real life.

My Mistake

I was tired, stressed, and trying to plow through a long list of emails. In that state, I replied to a message too abruptly—ironically, calling out errors in a document. To make matters worse, I hit reply-all instead of replying privately.

I didn’t fully register my tone until the next day, when someone copied on the email gently pointed it out. When I re-read what I’d written, my face flushed. I felt embarrassed and disappointed in myself. That wasn’t how I wanted to show up.

Own It

Later that day, I was in a meeting with everyone who had received that email. I opened the meeting by apologizing. I thanked the person who held me accountable and shared my commitment to handling situations like that differently in the future.

Learn From It

That moment gave me some valuable clarity. When I’m tired and stressed, my emotional intelligence takes a hit. And when I’m rushing or multitasking, I’m far more likely to make mistakes—especially in written communication.

Do Better Next Time

I started making small but meaningful changes. I built short mindfulness pauses into my day to better manage my energy and stress. I paid closer attention to my triggers. And when I felt those familiar emotions creeping in while writing an email, I saved it as a draft and revisited it later with a clearer head.

The Results

Owning mistakes isn’t easy. Vulnerability rarely is. But it is the critical next note.

As uncomfortable as that moment was, it became a turning point. It strengthened trust, permitted others to own their missteps, and reminded my team that I’m human, too.

So the next time you hit a wrong note, what “next note” will you choose to play?