Turning Setback Into Strength.
How a Real Estate Mistake Became a Lesson in Leadership and Integrity
In real estate, even costly setbacks—like testing soil on the wrong lot—can lead to valuable growth. In this candid reflection, Richard Valdez shares how a simple error turned into a powerful reminder that trust, transparency, and integrity are the true foundations of success. Discover how real estate professionals can turn mistakes into moments that strengthen relationships and build lasting credibility.
Read more at www.richardvaldezre.com/blog
by Richard Valdez - www.RichardValdezRE.com
Every so often in this business, you find yourself standing on ground you didn’t expect. You look around, and you realize—you’ve been digging in the wrong place all along.
That’s exactly what happened recently. A soil test was performed, carefully, thoroughly, but on the wrong lot. Now, on the surface, that sounds like nothing but a mistake—a costly one at that. But if you lean in a little closer, if you listen past the noise of embarrassment and frustration, you’ll find there’s a deeper lesson to be learned.
The truth is, leadership isn’t measured by how many times we avoid stumbling. It’s measured by how we rise after the stumble. By the courage it takes to stand up, admit the misstep, and steer things back onto the right path.
And so we wait. We wait for the soil report from the wrong parcel. Because knowledge, even misplaced, still carries value. And while we wait, we give thanks for the geodetic survey that has already shown us the truth—the real lot, the right foundation, waiting patiently for what comes next.
There is another step here, too. The rightful owner of that parcel deserves to know a study was done on their land. And what could’ve been a source of conflict can instead be turned into a gesture of goodwill. After all, a ₱32,000 soil study offered freely is not just a report—it’s a gift, a reminder that even our mistakes can serve a greater purpose if we choose to let them.
Because in life, as in real estate, setbacks are inevitable. Lots get misidentified, boundaries get blurred, plans go awry. But setbacks do not define us. What defines us is the way we respond—with honesty, with transparency, with grace.
And perhaps, when the dust settles, no one will remember the soil that was tested on the wrong ground. They’ll remember the trust that was built in its aftermath.
That, after all, is the real foundation we’re laying. Stronger than concrete. Stronger than steel. Built not just on land, but on integrity.
—Richard Valdez