How Was This My Fault? and Why That Question Saves Your Business?

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast I share one question I use when something goes wrong in business: “How was this my fault?” I treat it as a stoic habit. I cannot control other people, the market, or the weather. I can control my response, my planning, and my next move.

I use rain as an example. If you work outside, yelling at the sky will not stop the storm. A useful move is to prepare for it, accept it, and adjust. The same idea applies when a client calls angry because an employee made a mistake. If I match that anger, I lose the job and the next referral. If I own the outcome, I get a chance to fix things.

This is not self attack. It is responsibility. I walk through four places to look for my part in the problem: clarity, communication, constraints, and capability. Did I explain the job in a way the employee could repeat back? Did I build a culture where they can tell me they are stuck? Were they missing tools, materials, time, or a way to reach me? Did I put someone in a role they cannot do yet, or assume skill that is not there?

I also call out “should.” “They should know” is not a plan. I push for humility, feedback, and work that prevents repeats so 2026 runs on fewer fires and more progress.

When I take that approach, the conversation with my employee changes. I stop hunting for blame and start hunting for the break in the process. I ask what they heard, what blocked them, and what they needed from me. Then I set a clearer target, give them a way to flag issues early, and confirm the next steps before we move. That is how I earn trust with the client and build a team that gets better each week.