Turia Pitt has revealed her most "embarassing" mistakes on social media. Photo / Facebook
Turia Pitt has revealed her most "embarassing" mistakes on social media. Photo / Facebook
The inspirational Australian has revealed the horror moment she was charged a huge amount of money by the tax office over one simple blunder.
Turia Pitt is an inspirational women – but even she isn't immune to huge stuff-ups at work.
Pitt first became a household name after being caught in a grass fire while competing in an ultra-marathon in 2011 at age 24.
She received burns to 65 per cent of her body and doctors initially didn't expect her to survive, but the mother-of-one underwent hundreds of surgeries and a gruelling recovery process and today is well known as an author, motivational speaker and businesswoman.
But despite her career success, the 32-year-old recently took to social media to share some of the biggest – and most hilarious – "business f**k ups" she has made over the years in a bid to reassure and inspire other Aussies.
"I once went to the toilet with my speaking microphone turned on. The audience heard it all," she revealed.
"My first 'employee' was someone I made up (Sally from Accounts) because I was too scared to chase up on overdue bills 'myself'," she continued.
"I didn't realise I had to set aside the GST portion I was adding to invoices and as a result, owed the tax office a massive amount of money. Yes, it's been paid now."
Pitt also described the moment she made an embarrassing flight blunder.
"I was a finalist for the NSW Premier's Women of the Year and the invite said the event was at Parliament House. So, I booked flights to Canberra. Turns out the NSW Awards were in the Parliament House located in, as the name would suggest, Sydney, NEW SOUTH WALES. I wandered around Parliament House in Canberra for an HOUR before I figured it out," she wrote.
Turia Pitt has shared some of her most embarrassing career fails. Photo / News Corp Australia
Pitt explained she was sharing some of her biggest failings in January – a time when people usually have "big goals mapped out" – to help those who might be "feeling a bit scared about how it's all gonna pan out" or those who are "afraid you're gonna stuff it all up".
"I'm here to say this: Maybe you will! And maybe that's OK," she posted on Facebook.
"Here's the thing: Everyone makes mistakes. Even the world's most gamechanging and influential business people – Marie Forleo, Oprah Winfrey, Beyonce, Turia Pitt (I'm kidding, I'm obviously just the most successful) make mistakes.
"In fact, making mistakes is part of the deal."
She went on to explain that failure was actually a sign of success.
"Because the fact that you've made a mistake means that you're trying. You're ambitious. You've got goals. That's something to celebrate!" she wrote.
"Go big this year. Don't worry about stuffing up. And I promise I'll share everything I can to help you get where you wanna go."
Pitt also asked her followers to share some of their own mishaps, and they didn't disappoint.
"My boss who I barely knew held up his hand to signal me to stop talking, and I high fived it," one Facebook user shared, while another posted: "I worked in a call centre & instead of 'May I put you on hold please …' I said 'May I hold you please'."
"I've made some doozies but my favourite was a recent one when I put the wrong label on a parcel going to my elderly aunty. You might not think that's a big deal … except I sell sex toys. My Aunty received a massive dildo and my customer received a stick blender," another person wrote.
It has been a busy time for Pitt, who is expecting her second child.
Earlier this month, she launched the SpendWithThem Instagram account to help small businesses in bushfire-affected regions to promote themselves and their products.
Taking inspiration from campaigns like GoWithEmptyEskies and the BuyFromTheBush campaign, Pitt set up SpendWithThem to promote impacted businesses.
"This is a way to put money directly in the pockets of the people and communities who need it the most, and need it NOW," she told her followers.
