Most business owners avoid looking back at their financial decisions—either because "what's done is done" or because they're afraid of feeling stupid. The reality? Reflecting on your past investments isn't about punishing yourself. It's about extracting the information you need to make smarter decisions moving forward. In this episode of Creative Minds, Smart Money, I'm breaking down why reflection matters, how to do it without the shame spiral, and what patterns to watch for so you stop repeating expensive mistakes. Topics Covered Why reflection feels harder than buying — and how avoiding it keeps you stuck in repetitive spending patterns The difference between a bad outcome and a bad decision — why decisions are made with the info you had at that point in time, not what you know now What to ask yourself when reviewing investments — forget ROI for a second and focus on friction, stress, and whether the investment relied on future growth to feel okay The most common hindsight patterns — overestimating speed, underestimating cash tightness, assuming consistency that doesn't exist yet, and buying for the business you want instead of the one you have The danger of rewriting the story — how hindsight bias makes you harsher on yourself than necessary and erodes your decision confidence over time What a good reflection actually gives you — clearer instincts, better questions, fewer emotionally driven purchases, and trust in your ability to decide even when things don't go perfectly Reflection isn't about avoiding mistakes—you're human, and mistakes are part of the learning curve. It's about shortening that curve so you're not paying the same tuition twice. The big investments in your business will always exist. The difference is whether you're guessing or deciding with the context you've built from looking back. Clarity doesn't come from never getting it wrong. It comes from actually looking at what happened and using it to move smarter. Mentioned in the Episode: Episode 37: The CEO’s Guide to Making Strategic Investments That Actually Pay Off Links & Resources Website: https://firestormfinance.com/ Podcast Home: https://firestormfinance.com/podcast/ Book a Discovery Call: https://firestormfinance.com/contact Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify Social: Instagram: @firestormfinance Threads: @firestormfinance LinkedIn: Samantha Eck Facebook: Firestorm Finance YouTube: @FirestormFinance Pinterest: Firestorm Finance Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 — Why reflecting on investments feels harder than making them 3:30 — The difference between a bad outcome and a bad decision 4:48 — What to actually ask yourself when reviewing past purchases 6:24 — The most common patterns that show up in hindsight 8:07 — How hindsight bias erodes your decision confidence 9:31 — What a good reflection practice gives you