If You Make a Mistake, Make It FULL SPEED

 “I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly; you're doing something.”
                                                                                                                                                                                            — Neil Gaiman

Every four months, I welcome a new group of Black Belt Candidates preparing for their testing journey with me. For many, it's their first time training under my instruction. And as you might expect, that first session can feel intimidating.

I often see students—capable, strong, and well-prepared—freeze under the weight of one thing: the fear of making a mistake.

That fear creates hesitation. Hesitation leads to errors. Errors fuel more self-doubt. And the cycle continues.

So I always share a story from my own life—one that shaped me forever.

The Lesson That Changed Everything

It was my first fall football camp at Northwestern University. The grind of two-a-day practices was brutal. My body was sore, my mind overwhelmed, and my spirit teetering on exhaustion.

As a freshman inside linebacker, I had a key responsibility: calling defensive alignments on the field. That meant I wasn’t just responsible for my own play—I was also setting the stage for the entire defense.

One day, caught between uncertainty and overthinking, I froze. The ball was snapped, and I failed—badly. Wrong alignment, missed tackle, poor execution.

That’s when my linebacker coach, Mike Church, shouted a phrase that still echoes in my mind:

“Natzke, if you’re going to make a mistake, make it full speed!”

It wasn’t just tough love. It was wisdom.

Coach Church saw what was really holding me back—it wasn’t a lack of ability. It was the fear of messing up. That fear was paralyzing me. And it was only when I let go of that fear and gave myself permission to fail that I started to play like I belonged.

Perfection Is Not the Goal — Progress Is

Now, when I speak to my martial arts students or to audiences around the country, I tell them this:

 

If you make a mistake with full passion, presence, and purpose, I will always be patient.

But if you give a half-hearted effort—even if it's technically correct—then we’ve got a problem.

Why? Because when we allow fear of failure to dictate our actions, we cut ourselves off from growth. We stop living boldly. We choose safety over significance.

And that’s not what leaders do.

What Are You Willing to Risk?

I’ll admit—this lesson took me years to learn. As a self-proclaimed “recovering perfectionist,” I know how hard it is to let go of the need to get everything right.

But think about it—how does a toddler learn to walk? By falling. Over and over again. And yet, we cheer them on because we understand that falling is part of the learning.

So why do we judge ourselves so harshly for the same?

Look back on your proudest moments—the ones that shaped who you are. Chances are, they included a few stumbles, a few scraped knees, and a whole lot of courage.

The moments that haunt us most are usually the ones where we didn’t even try.

This Week’s Challenge

I challenge you this week:

Take the shot. Swing the bat. Speak up. Go for it.

Where in your life are you letting the fear of making a mistake keep you small?

Pick one action that feels bold.

One step that might not be perfect—but that will absolutely move you forward.

And when you do it...

MAKE YOUR MISTAKES FULL SPEED.

 

If this message resonates with you, and you’re looking to ignite this kind of breakthrough mindset in your organization, your students, or your own life…

👉 Let’s talk. Visit www.ChrisNatzke.com to learn more about my Black Belt Leadership keynotes, workshops, and personal coaching programs.

Together, we’ll turn hesitation into bold action—and mistakes into milestones.

To your breakthroughs,

Chris Natzke
America’s Breakthrough Sensei