The Everyday Maverick: Rise to Distinction: HIS Story: How Wise Mavericks Learn Without Repeating Mistakes

Philosophy is the disciplined pursuit of wisdom—an intentional practice of learning how to think, live, and choose well. Rooted in reflection, history, and lived experience, philosophy invites us to learn not only from our own mistakes but from the successes and failures of those who came before us. In HIS Story, this way of thinking comes alive: history becomes a teacher, wisdom becomes a shortcut, and transformation becomes a conscious choice. By engaging the past with humility and insight, we position ourselves to live with greater purpose, alignment, and meaning—reducing repetition, refining direction, and stepping closer to our divine calling.

HIS Story

Do we learn from history—or are we condemned to repeat it?

How often do we find ourselves making the same old mistakes—ours, or worse, mistakes we’ve already seen others make?

My father, Harold Samuel Nicholls, once said something to me that has echoed through my life ever since:

“You are the youngest in the family. Watch your siblings closely. Don’t make the same mistakes they do.”

It was a simple sentence, but a profound lesson.

That moment taught me something counter-cultural:
You don’t have to experience every mistake firsthand to learn from it.
Wisdom allows us to borrow insight from the lives, failures, and victories of others.

I’ve tried to weave this philosophy into how I think, lead, and live. And yet, if I’m honest, I haven’t applied it as consistently or as intentionally as I should. This principle—when fully embraced—has the power to accelerate growth and elevate life to dimensions we often only dream about.

Scripture captures this truth with sobering clarity:
“My people perish for lack of knowledge.”

Not lack of effort.
Not lack of passion.
Lack of knowledge.

History—personal, communal, and spiritual—is a teacher. Ignoring it doesn’t make us brave or independent; it makes us vulnerable to repetition.

So here’s the invitation:
Let’s increase our rate of transformation by reducing our errors to absurdly low levels.
Let’s learn from past pain instead of romanticising it.
Let’s plan wisely, not react emotionally.

In Hebrew, the word “sin” literally means “to miss the mark.”
To sin is not merely to break rules—it is to miss God’s intention, to fall short of alignment.

When we grow in knowledge, wisdom, and historical understanding, we don’t just become smarter—we become more aligned. More intentional. More capable of stepping into the purpose we were designed for.

This is HIS story.
And when we pay attention to it, it reshapes ours.

Shalom!