My Favorite Mistake: Business Lessons from Failures and Success

Author of the book Chocolate Drop in Corporate America: From The Pit To The Palace. Episode page: https://markgraban.com/mistake168 My guest for Episode #168 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Genesis Amaris Kemp. She is a Creative Content Writer, Author, Self-Development Advocate, Visionary, Inclusion and Diversity enthusiast, and (I love this) a “Firecracker, and a force to be reckoned with.” She is a woman of color, a trailblazer who wants others to live out their dreams, goals, and visions. She’s the author of the book Chocolate Drop in Corporate America: From The Pit To The Palace. Genesis has been featured on four dozen-plus podcasts, and magazines, and then decided to finally start her own podcast, GEMS with Genesis Amaris Kemp. In this episode, Genesis shares her “favorite mistake” stories about being too bold. Why did her now-husband break up with her four times? Why was she told to stop being so bold at work? Was there a double standard for a woman of color? What did she learn and how did she adapt, while remaining true to herself? We also talk about questions and topics including: Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man — relationships book, Steve Harvey Working in oil and gas – male dominated Double standard for women? More so as a woman of color? You write about choosing a major (and changing majors) — tell us about that thought process. In your book, you talk about having 3 job opportunities… it sounds like you chose what was the best for the long term (not just the highest pay in the now). What led to that decision? What led to you writing your book? Mistakes related to DEI — that organizations make or that individuals make? Tell us about your Podcast: Dad - victim of a medication error while a patient… paralyzed Prompted her to talk about the grief journey… into a microphone Find Genesis on social media: Twitter Facebook YouTube Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Marketer and author of "The Rule of 26" Episode page: https://markgraban.com/mistake167 My guest for Episode #167 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Michael “Buzz” Buzinski, the President/CMO of Buzzworthy Integrated Marketing. Buzz is a lifelong entrepreneur, digital marketing thought leader, and best-selling author of his book The Rule of 26 For Service-Centric Businesses: Three Steps To Doubling Website Revenue. Check out his book's website. Dubbed a “visionary marketer” by the American Marketing Association, Michael’s sole mission is to reduce the prevalence of entrepreneurial poverty in the US. Michael is a 10 year Air Force Veteran who now mentors other vetrepreneurs through “Warriors Rising”, leads marketing workshops for the Small Business Administration, the Small Business Development Center in multiple states, and has presented marketing workshops for multiple Universities. In this episode, Buzz shares his “favorite mistake” story about “the little coup” that took place at his previous company when he went on a trip to Italy to serve as a videographer instead because he had nobody else to send. While he was away, the electicity went out at the home office because somebody didn't pay the bill. Young employees “thought the company was going out of business” and that led to a lot of chaos… and his eventual decision to break up the company. Why was the the “best worst thing” that happened to Buzz and how did he move forward in a better way? We also talk about questions and topics including: Why do you say you’re a failed musician? What happened? Starving artist or musician… What does this phrase mean? What is the rule of 26? Digital marketing mistakes?? Newest mistake that you’ve found? Tell us about Warriors Rising The only three key performance indicators (KPIs) you need to track when marketing your website? How to get a free copy of his book:Get a copy of his book, The Rule of 26 on Amazon in eBook or paperback. He will send a free signed paperback copy to any listener who purchases his eBook from Amazon if they email him at buzz@buzzworthy.biz with a screenshot of their purchase and the address they want the book sent to. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Episode page: https://markgraban.com/mistake166 My guest for Episode #166 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Alisha Wielfaert, a leadership, creativity, transitions and resiliency coach for women. She started her career at an over one-hundred-year-old insurance company. She moved on from that. Along the way, she started studying yoga at the Asheville Yoga Center not just as a physical practice but as a spiritual path. She opened a yoga studio… and then sold it… Alisha is also the author of a book that’s just been released, titled Little Failures: Learning to Build Resilience Through Everyday Setbacks, Challenges, and Obstacles. Enter to win a signed copy!! She is the host of a podcast, The Yoke and Abundance: Wise Women Podcast and her company is called Yoke and Abundance. In this episode, Alisha shares her “favorite mistake” story about opening a yoga studio that “did nothing but lose money” as it went into bankruptcy. Why was this her “greatest learning experience” but also the “most shameful” that has happened to her? Why did the business fail and what lessons did Alisha learn that she has (and will) apply to other businesses? We also talk about questions and topics including: Passion plus seeking for purpose in life Bootstrapping was a problem – couldn’t fully commit Lessons for when you became a coach? Do the failures help you be a better coach? The Dropout? Elizabeth Holmes Other thoughts or tips on how to analyze or process our failures? People who are successful after failures do what things? How to not get stuck in the grieving and processing time? Fear of mistakes — Atelophobia is an obsessive fear of imperfection Do you see a difference between “mistakes” and “failures”? Let’s explore that… “Planning for failures” in the writing and release of the book? You write about the idea of “Failing out loud” — the implications for women and minorities? TEDx talk – founder of Girls Who Code (Reshma Saujani) Tell us the story behind the name of your company, Yoke and Abundance? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Author of The Career Toolkit. Episode page: https://markgraban.com/mistake165 My guest for Episode #165 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Mark Herschberg, the author of the book The Career Toolkit, Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You. Learn more at his book's website. This is Mark's 300th appearance as a podcast guest! From tracking criminals and terrorists on the dark web to creating marketplaces and new authentication systems, Mark has spent his career launching and developing new ventures at startups and Fortune 500s and in academia. He helped to start the Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program, dubbed MIT’s “career success accelerator,” where he teaches annually. At MIT, he received a B.S. in physics, a B.S. in electrical engineering & computer science, and an M.Eng. in electrical engineering & computer science, focusing on cryptography. At Harvard Business School, Mark helped create a platform used to teach finance at prominent business schools. He also works with many non-profits, including Techie Youth and Plant A Million Corals. He was one of the top-ranked ballroom dancers in the country and now lives in New York City, where he is known for his social gatherings, including his annual Halloween party, as well as his diverse cufflink collection. In this episode, Mark shares his “favorite mistake” story about being promised something by board members that was not put in writing. What happened when a new CEO came in? Why was he fired from the product and engineering teams? What adjustments did he make to his approach with later companies? We also talk about questions and topics including: Was not spending on tech another short-sighted decision? Book — lots of examples of mistakes in the book and the class he teaches Tell us about the book?? The Career Toolkit, Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You. — not just about new graduates? Networking mistakes – he met Tim Berners-Lee and blew the opportunity to build a relationship What are some of those essential networking skills? Is it a mistake to sign confidentiality or non-compete clauses? Negotiating mistakes? Don’t name a number first? Ethical situations? Your top 3 Halloween costumes? Find Mark on social media: Twitter Facebook Instagram LinkedIn --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Author of The Orgasmic Entrepreneur and more Episode page and links: https://markgraban.com/mistake164 My guest for Episode #164 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Melissa Drake. As the founder of Uncorped Influence, Melissa helps like-minded businesses and individuals find creative solutions and go further than they thought possible. Melissa is the author of three books: The Orgasmic Entrepreneur: Discover the Sweet Spot of Love, Sex, and Business by Simply Being YOU, Sacred Medicine Integration: A Companion Journal Supporting Ceremonial Medicine Experiences TranscenDANCE: Lessons From Living, Loving, and Dancing She's also a TEDx Speaker with 25 years climbing the corporate ranks and a decade of entrepreneurial experience. Her TEDx Talk, “The Dance of Collaboration,” presents fresh insights on the benefits of collectively beneficial collaborations. In this episode, Melissa shares her “favorite mistake” story about the pattern of “not taking care of who I am as a person, not pursuing the things that bring me joy.” How did she come to see this pattern? Are mistakes like this just “part of the process” or are they to be avoided? How does she make sure she doesn't fall back into that trap? We also talk about questions and topics including: Were you sort of going through life in autopilot? Finding the fix — looking within or to others? How to make sure you don’t fall back into that trap? As easy as avoiding a corporate job? When things aren’t going well — double down? – Or rest, take time? Did you have any fear that your book title would be a mistake? Is it a book for women? No New path started in 2015, laid off from insurance industry, “kick in the pants” she needed Why was “the ability to truly be me” so important to you? Freedom of expression is one of your most significant values Correlation or causation? — finding “the link between achieving sexual satisfaction and attaining strong business results.” Find Melissa on social media: Facebook YouTube LinkedIn Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Episode page and links: https://markgraban.com/mistake163 My guest for Episode #163 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Jeff Zigman, known as “The Business Engineer,” and the founder and CEO of SkillBuilder. He’s been a tech entrepreneur 10 years, having led and built 25+ software projects from idea to Live, including multimillion-dollar enterprise software, with an engineering background, ten years as a Business Analyst, and eight years as a Chief Technology Officer. He’s married with two little kids and, during COVID, he created a software platform that incorporates the learning principles that he’s gained from 20 years of martial arts into a remote learning system that he’s been able to prove to be more effective for virtual training than most in-person training, with higher absorption and better retention. In this episode, Jeff shares his “favorite mistake” story about trusting somebody he was working to build a software company with — working for 1.5 years on a trust basis, how did Jeff end up saddled with a “lopsided contract”? What problems did that cause and why was it “a real nightmare”? We talk about that and the lessons that Jeff learned through this experience. We also talk about questions and topics including: Were there red flags? Should he have gotten a lawyer to review it? How has he focused on not preventing this mistake? Why is training thousands of employees so difficult? Lessons from martial arts? 4 things that are required? What is Process-Oriented Learning? Knowledge (information or theory) vs. Skills (ability)? How do we confirm that the learning has sunk in… that the skills can be applied effectively? Closing the loop? How can training be gamified? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Episode page: https://markgraban.com/mistake162 My guests for Episode #162 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast are Dr. Joseph A. Allen and Karin M. Reed. They are the authors of the book SUDDENLY HYBRID: Managing the Modern Meeting. Their previous book was SUDDENLY VIRTUAL: Making Remote Meetings Work. KARIN M. REED is CEO of Speaker Dynamics. She is an Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist and now focuses on helping business professionals to be confident communicators on any platform? in person, on camera, or through virtual communication tools. JOSEPH A. ALLEN, PHD, is a Professor of Industrial and Organizational Psychology at the University of Utah. His research focus is on the study of workplace meetings, organizational community engagement, and occupational safety and health. Sharing their “favorite mistake” stories, Karin talks about a time early in her television news career, where a technical mishap taught her to always have a “Plan B.” Why was Joe surprised that he wasn't getting honest feedback about his writing, and what did that teach him about not taking expertise for granted? We also talk about questions and topics including: Mistakes with virtual meetings? Is it a mistake to keep your camera off? What is a hybrid meeting or the hybrid workplace? Mistakes that people or organizations make with hybrid? Tips and tricks to be inclusive to all participants in the room, on video, on the phone etc.? Technology to solve the room webcam camera problem? When the video is imperative in a virtual or hybrid meeting and when it’s not? Non-verbals in a hybrid meeting? Strategies to combat video fatigue and multitasking? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Author of Relationships to Infinity Episode page: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake161 My guest for Episode #161 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Jason Levin. He's a speaker and trainer. He's an executive career, business development and outplacement coach. He's the co-host of the Parents at Work Podcast. His website is www.readysetlaunch.net. He’s also the author of the book, Relationships to Infinity: The Art and Science of Keeping in Touch. Scroll down to learn how to enter to win one of five free signed copies of the book! In serving his enterprise and individual clients, Jason draws on experiences as a District Manager with Vault.com. At Vault, he held roles both on the operations team and led a remote business development team. Prior to Vault.com, he worked in brand management for Unilever on the Dove Global team where he developed global innovations in the anti-aging skincare category and he also worked for the consulting firms KPMG and Accenture. He has an MBA from the Georgetown McDonough School of Business. He’s an assistant coach on his son’s little league baseball team and is a “raving fan” of DC sports. In today's episode, Jason shares his “favorite mistake” story about failing to follow up with the wealthy benefactor of Rowan College. Why did he get yelled at by the head fundraiser at the college — and for how long? How have those lessons from that episode impact him as a coach? We also talk about questions and topics including: What attracted you to working with retired pro athletes in their career transitions? How is it different? Previous episodes with retired athletes Lenny Walls and Dave Scatchard With limited (non-infinite) time – how do we make time to focus on relationships? “Show me your calendar and I’ll show you your priorities” What is your “social fortress”? Your external network vs. your network inside the company --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Founder of Shattered Pencil Studios Episode page and links: https://markgraban.com/mistake160 My guest for Episode #160 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Rosie Kosinski. She is what she calls the Brand Queen and Founder of Shattered Pencil Studios, a brand design & development boutique. She straddles the line between creative and strategic, artistic and scientific. Raised by entrepreneurs and artists in a nomadic environment that took her through Europe, the Middle East, and the United States, Rosie is a global citizen through and through. She taps into this mosaic of perspectives to deeply understand the people she serves and to help them connect with the people they serve. In today's episode, Rosie shares her “favorite mistake” story about “waiting too long to get a coach.” How did she go from being skeptical about the idea to working with a coach for years? We also talk about questions and topics including: Learning to value her work — the Sandler Selling System Why she learned to quote a price and “shut the hell up” More about what you learned about being a branding design coach? Do people confuse a logo with a brand? Mistakes that people make when it comes to branding?? Other than being cheap? Micromanaging the process? Blog post about Brand Clarity in Seven Questions 5 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before I Became A Founder --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Episode page and links: https://markgraban.com/mistake159 My guest for Episode #159 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Glenn Poulos, the cofounder, vice president, and general manager of Gap Wireless Inc., a leading distributor for the mobile broadband wireless and test and measurement equipment markets. Gap Wireless Inc. was recently acquired by Network Wireless Solutions. With over three decades of experience in sales, Glenn has spent thousands of hours in the field or on the phone with customers and working with salespeople to help create several very successful companies. After entering the sales field in 1985 as a technical sales rep, Glenn founded his first company, mmWave Technologies Inc., in 1991 and simultaneously served as president of Anritsu Electronics Ltd. for nine years. Using his extensive knowledge and experience in the industry, he lectures groups on sales strategy, consumerism, and what motivates people at a raw emotional level. His new book is titled NEVER SIT IN THE LOBBY… 57 Winning Sales Factors to Grow a Business and Build a Career Selling. In today's episode, Glenn shares his “favorite mistake” story about being the last to know that it was difficult (if not impossible) for employees to reach. Why did that unsolicited feedback “sting” and what did Glenn do to adjust going forward? We also talk about questions and topics including: Learned to ask people for feedback?? Mistakes in the selling of the first company? Never forget a face What is “greed-based learning” when it comes to sales? When to Stop Compromising with Your Customer – and What to Do Instead?? – can you give us an example? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support