Oh … Yeah … You Screwed Up

 There comes a time in every small business owner’s life when they mess up. Sometimes it’s Big time, hopefully most of the time not so much. Last week, it was my turn—again. Because throughout the last few years – there have been many – but this example – due to its recency – made the cut for revelation. 

It all started with a Friday morning phone call. One of our valued team members hadn’t received their direct deposit. Not ideal. As I frantically scrolled through my mental checklist, I landed on the painful realization … Oh no… I screwed up. 

Turns out (and here is a lesson in and of itself) when a federal holiday falls anywhere near your scheduled payday, it can create absolute chaos in the banking universe. Long story short: I didn’t process payroll in time. And yes, that meant someone didn’t get paid on time.  

Lessons from the Payroll Pit 

First lesson: Don’t pay your people late. Especially if you're a small business. Why? Because your team is already giving you the side-eye for operating out of a tiny office, using four different coffee mugs as pen holders, and being the CEO/HR/accounting intern all in one. The least you can do is make sure the money shows up. 

I could’ve blamed it on "payroll gremlins" or claimed the algorithm “went on strike.” But the truth is, I just messed up. And here's the thing: when you mess up, own it, fix it, and make it right. 

Mistakes happen. But the difference between an inconvenience and a full-blown crisis isn’t yours to define—it’s your employee’s. And when you lead a team, honoring your commitments matters. That includes doing the sometimes boring but always critical stuff—like running payroll on time. 

The Power of Owning It 

Making mistakes doesn’t mean you’re not qualified. In fact, mistakes are how we get better. Every error teaches us something. (Like: set multiple calendar reminders for payroll and don’t ignore holiday reminders from your payroll service. 

 More importantly, how you respond when things go wrong becomes the culture your business is built on. You can either double down on denial or double down on accountability. I say accountability will get your through every time.  One of the most powerful things you can do as a leader is say: I messed up, and I’m making it right, and I really hope you’ll forgive me. That’s where trust lives. 

So here’s to mistakes. May they be small, may they be rare, and may they always come with a lesson.