To avoid operational mistakes when self-managing the Schema Registry component in an architecture, it is recommended to configure it properly from the start and manage it well. This includes deploying Schema Registry instances on their own hosts, using a single global cluster across the entire company or geographical areas, and configuring different settings between instances that should be the same. Additionally, proper security measures such as SSL encryption, SSL or SASL authentication, and monitoring are crucial to ensure the service is healthy and able to service clients. Mistakes like co-locating Schema Registry with other services, creating separate instances within a company, and not backing up the schemas topic can lead to duplicate schema IDs, lost schemas, and inaccessible services. Furthermore, improper configuration settings, such as mixing election modes or mis-configuring SSL keys, certificates, keystores, or truststores, can also cause problems. By following best practices and avoiding these operational pitfalls, developers can build GenAI apps faster and more efficiently.