If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not making decisions.

The remark links error with agency: meaningful decisions involve uncertainty, trade-offs, and incomplete information, so mistakes are an expected byproduct of acting rather than hesitating. It implicitly criticizes perfectionism and risk-avoidance, suggesting that a spotless record may indicate passivity, overreliance on consensus, or refusal to commit. In leadership and creative work, the line functions as a permission structure—normalizing missteps as evidence of engagement and learning. The underlying ethic is pragmatic: progress comes from iterative judgment, and the absence of mistakes can be a warning sign that one is not exercising real discretion or taking responsibility for outcomes.