A Successful Failure Takes Practice
I used to believe to give something your best was only able once, when you give it your first shot. To do your best and not succeed so, would ensure failure. However since my first failure (from childhood through to the future), I have come to learn that each shot at success is different from the first, and sometimes due to experience, better.
“I knew that if I failed I wouldn’t regret that, but I knew the one thing I might regret is not trying.” –Jeff Bezos, Amazon Founder and CEO
No matter when you start a venture, striking the right time is often difficult. Should you have school aged children, going into business at the start of the school holidays is challenging. Perhaps not ideal. Having a partner who is already committed to long hours and working away from home is a habit both of you had become accustomed to, and proves hard to break. As you have stopped working for an employer, your time is now split between the expectancy of being available to do holiday care etc. What you thought would be an ideal situation becomes a challenging act of spending time devoted to the two causes you started. Personally, I learnt that starting a business at the start of the school holidays is a little like running uphill into a head wind. You hope that you can adjust your pace to get to the top, however as the head wind gets stronger, your strength to pull you up gets shorter. Having the ability to bounce back and say 'next week circumstances will change' is a vital practice for success for my business. I could not foresee the changes that were going to take place when I stepped back from being employed, to being my employee.
Success is a learning curve. You can give it your best shot multiple times, as long as each time is learning from the first. Let the wind turn and drive you from behind when going uphill, that way you will reach your destination with the energy to complete the distance.
“You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing and falling over.” –Richard Branson, Virgin Group Founder
Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.
So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?
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59% Yes, supporting people is important!
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26% No, individuals should take responsibility
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15% ... It is complicated
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Illegal dumping
This is awful how people just disregard bylaws. dump their rubbish in parks and waterways to try get away with having to pay dumping costs at the rubbish dumps and transfer stations. This also can cause flooding again due to blocking the grate of the culvert in Princes street. No thought for neighbours or damage that can be caused by their actions.
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