Why Some Mistakes Are Too Costly to Learn the Hard Way (ft. Dr. John Check)

Why Some Mistakes Are Too Costly to Learn the Hard Way (ft. Dr. John Check)

August 28, 2026 · 31 min

We all make mistakes — a lot of us make the same ones over and over. In this episode, we welcome back our friend Dr. John Check, pastor and author, to talk about his new book, Experience Is What You Get Right After You Need It, and what real mistake recovery actually looks like.We dig into the difference between a mistake and an infraction, why Type A personalities have such a hard time processing failure, and why it matters to understand your own wiring and the wiring of the people you lead. Dr. Check shares practical tools he's used for decades — asking trusted "spotters" to call out his blind spots, leaning on a small accountability group, and building real friendships outside the church walls. The conversation lands on something bigger than avoiding mistakes: learning to be thankful in the middle of them, because that's often where real spiritual maturity is found.0:00 – Learning from a Lifetime of Mistakes4:26 – Owning Your Role Before You Can Heal from a Mistake9:30 – A Baptism Question and a Mentor's Advice That Saved the Day12:50 – The Difference Between a Mistake and an Infraction14:02 – Type A Personalities and the Fear of Imperfection18:57 – Why Internalizing Mistakes Builds Walls, Not Bridges23:38 – Spotters and Accountability: Building Guardrails24:33 – The Golf Course Story That Saved the Church Support the showDr. Shah writes a personal letter every week — reflections on Scripture, faith, and living it out with clarity and purpose. GET THE LETTER If you enjoyed the show, please like and follow our Facebook and Instagram pages, and also subscribe to our YouTube channel. This is an excellent way to stay connected to the Clearview team and ensure you don't miss a thing.PRE-ORDER BYZANTINE TEXTFORM: https://subsplash.com/u/-MPJ586/forms/d/1090d08a-49c0-498a-ad97-5c0fd575fa9eSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:MIGHTY MUSCADINE SUPPLEMENTSLEBLEU ULTRA-PURE WATERKEEP YOUR KIDS PROTECTED ONLINE--->> DR SHAH'S BOOKS>> SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE>> CHECK OUT ALL OUR SHOWS

Dr. Abidan Shah

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