My Favorite Mistake: Business Lessons from Failures and Success

Episode page: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake135 My guest for Episode #135 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Michael Juergens. He is a senior partner with a Big Four consulting firm, where he runs the Winery Solutions practice, overseeing the portfolio of services the firm provides to wineries. He is also a certified specialist of wine, a certified sommelier, and a Stage 2 candidate to become the 59th American to qualify as a Master of Wine, if he can “pass the damn exam” as he says on his website. Michael is also the author of two books in the “Drinking & Knowing Things” series (under his pen name, Michael Amon). He is the founder of the Bhutan Wine Company, and is leading the development of the wine industry in this magical Himalayan country. He owns the award winning SoCal Rum Company, which was recently awarded the highest point score in history for any silver rum (95 points). Michael also is a professor at the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California Irvine. He's a punk rock drummer and an adventure race addict In today's episode, Michael answers the “what is your favorite mistake?” question a little differently. He draws a bit on Buddhism to question whether anything is really a mistake, if whatever happens was meant to be. That said, he thinks that drinking certain wines is a huge mistake. So we talk about that in a wide-ranging and fun conversation. We talk about questions and topics including: You failed the tasting portion of the Master of Wine exam four years in a row, would you be upset if you failed again? You also started the entire wine industry in the Kingdom of Bhutan in the Himalayas — tell us about that… Failing forward in Bhutan — Buddhist influence? What is “winedouchery” and why are you so opposed to it? Snobbery? Average price under $10? People who don’t like wine? Champagne just for celebrations? Starting the distillery?? COMMON THEME —> “Self-limiting beliefs” What sparked that passion about wine? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Leadership professor, author, entrepreneur Episode page: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake134 My guest for Episode #134 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Dr. Kasey Lynn Thompson. She is an Associate Professor of Business Ethics, Business, and Strategy at Ferris State University and former Director of Global Menu Strategy for a Fortune 250 company. Dr. Kasey Lynn is the author of the book Fall Down, Gritty Up: The Unconventional Mental Map for Becoming Your Own Hero. She is also the proprietor of Pendulum Publishing, a consulting firm in Michigan. Dr. Kasey Lynn earned a PhD in Values-Driven Leadership from Benedictine University. In today's episode, Dr. Kasey Lynn shares her “favorite mistake” story about a career decision — staying with McDonald's (the larger parent company) instead of staying with the spun-off RedBox company that she had worked for. What did she learn from these events? How does it inform and affect the way she coaches students about career decisions? We talk about that story and other topics including: Choosing a job based on relationships, values… product? Advising students? – how to decide what “best” is for an opportunity? How has RedBox done in the age of streaming? Your PhD… What is values-driven leadership? Your former employer didn’t know you were working on a PhD? Theranos – Elizabeth Holmes? Fraud or true believer? Tell us about teaching Business Ethics… Most likely business ethics situations a student might face in the business world? You started a new restaurant… Fatty C's Dog House Not let yourself get too down, what am I learning from this? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Founder of New Braunfels Brewing Company Episode page: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake133 My guest for Episode #133 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Kelly Meyer, the author of How NOT to start a Damn Brewery: Ten Business Lessons From The Front Lines of The Craft Beer Industry — and a podcast of that same name. In today's episode, Kelly shares his “favorite mistake” story about starting a brewery (New Braunfels Brewing Company) at the wrong time — and how he sold that brewery ten years later. His book talks about 10 major mistakes that he made… it’s a fun read, even if you’re not interested in starting a damn brewery. We talk about that story and other topics including: Not getting out – 3 moments of insolvency… How close were you to getting out? Had sold a chain of fitness centers — what made that successful? Did you think that would be transferrable? 2022 – when the EIDL funds run out… Why write the book? Cathartic? Warning for others? Are you working as an advisor to others? Was it a mistake to curse in the book? “Most people… don’t want to hear the truth” — Magazines don’t want to print anything negative “Mistakes are just weaknesses leaving your business” Would you ever start another brewery based on what you learned the first time? Tell us more about the podcast — No shortage of guests? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Episode page: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake132 My guest for Episode #132 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Manisha Thakor, a 25-year veteran of the financial services industry. She has seen firsthand the downfalls of being trapped in what she calls “the cult of money.” She is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a Certified Financial Planner. From a failed marriage to nearly working herself to death – twice, Manisha has learned the hard way how expensive this pursuit of money really is. Using a unique approach she calls “MoneyZen”, Manisha found her way back to financial and personal wellbeing. Today, she uses this framework to help others do the same. Manisha is the author of books including On My Own Two Feet and Get Financially Naked: How to Talk Money With Your Honey. In today's episode, Manisha shares her “favorite mistake” story about realizing she had saved up far more than she needed for retirement — at the cost of her own well-being, health, and satisfaction. Why did she confuse wealth for “well-th”? We talk about that story and other topics including: Retired once she realized she had WAY too much saved From donations to direct participation in meaningful non-profits? Tell us what you mean by the phrase “a cult of money” and why people get caught up in that? Well-th isn’t as easily measured? Ten Percent Happier podcast What led to you “nearly working yourself to death”? The cult of “never enough” The most common money mistakes that couples make? What is “MoneyZen”? How do you work with individuals? With organizations (wellness centers, corporations) The quiz on her website that she mentioned Find Manisha on Social Media: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Please follow, rate, and review via Apple Podcasts or Podchaser or your favorite app — that helps others find this content and you'll be sure to get future episodes as they are released weekly. You can also become a financial supporter of the show through Anchor.fm. You can now sign up to get new episodes via email, to make sure you don't miss an episode. This podcast is part of the Lean Communicators network. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Video and more: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake131 My guest for Episode #131 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Brandon Smith, an executive coach, author, speaker, and podcaster. His podcast (and his label for himself) is “The Workplace Therapist” and he's had me as a guest there. As a “therapist,” he has an MS in Clinical Counseling. Some of his jobs and roles include: The Worksmiths, Founder and CEO The Leadership Foundry, Co-Founder Goizueta Business School, Emory University, Adjunct Faculty He’s the author of books including his latest, The Hot Sauce Principle: How to Live and Lead in a World Where Everything Is Urgent All of the Time. In today's episode, Brandon shares his “favorite mistake” story about staying in a “comfortable” executive education teaching job too long — why was that a “bad relationship” and what did he learn from the experience? We talk about that story and other topics including: What triggered this realization? Was it a pattern? Why did you come to call yourself “the workplace therapist”? What reasons do people come to you for workplace therapy? Choosing to come vs. being told they have to? Resisting expertise? Tell us about the book… what is the “hot sauce principle”?? Why do we need “focused energy”? Using “hot sauce” or urgency appropriately Find Brandon on Social Media: LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Show notes, video, and more: https://markgraban.com/mistake130 My guest for Episode #130 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Vicki Moore, joining us from Frankfurt, Germany. Vicki is an entrepreneur, author, and coach, whose passion is finding ways to help people achieve big goals. She spent most of her career in corporate training and development, working with Fortune 500 clients. She founded a successful training agency in Los Angeles, which she ran for more than 10 years, before pursuing her dream of moving to Europe in 2015. She now lives in Germany and helps both teams and individuals confidently create their own path to success. She’s the author of the Book: Life Beyond Should: Overcome Expectations & Create the Life You Want. Enter to win a signed copy by using the entry form further down on this page. Enter to win a signed copy (click here). In today's episode, Vicki tells her “favorite mistake” story about getting divorced and giving away the business she had spent ten years building. How did this mistake lead to a better situation that she “couldn't have done otherwise”? Why was moving to Europe more difficult than Vicki expected and what did she learn from that? We talk about that story and other topics including: Moving to Europe, hadn’t factored in culture, biz culture, network, language… — a mistake to assume that Tell us about the coaching work that you do… who do you work with? And where? Do you help coach people through mistakes? Overcoming expectations of what others think our life should look like Best thing / worst thing about moving there? Expectations – can be good or unfair expectations? Find Vicki on Social Media: Instagram LinkedIn --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Show notes, video, transcript, and more: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake129 My guest for Episode #129 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Mark Noon. He is a professional speaker, executive coach, and developer of leaders at his company, LEADERSHIPTEN. Mark is a retired USAF clinical laboratory manager and was in that role for more than ten years out of a total 20+ years of service. He is the author of the book Set Up: Timeless Leadership Skills for Your Success. In today's episode, Mark tells his “favorite mistake” story about thinking that career transitions would be easy. Why did Mark go into “panic mode” after six months, and how did he adjust his approach? We talk about that story and other topics including: Positional authority vs being authoritative Command and Control leadership? New transition – forming his own company Looked back for previous lessons learned from past transition? Blog post: 10 Reasons Why We Decided on the name LEADERSHIPTEN Is it a mistake for healthcare organizations to ask too much for “10 ratings from patients? Building upon struggles to be a better Coaching to avoid mistakes or focus on learning from them?? Telling what to do versus helping them see it Find Leadership10 on Social Media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Show page: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake128 My guest for Episode #128 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Katie Anderson, a leadership coach, and the author of the book Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn: Lessons from Toyota Leader Isao Yoshino on a Lifetime of Continuous Learning — along with the companion workbook that she published. Katie was previously a guest with Mr. Yoshino in Episode 30 back in January 2021. In today's episode, Katie tells her most recent “favorite mistake” story about recording and producing the audiobook version of her book. What went wrong? How did she discover the problems? We talk about that story and other topics including: Doing your best? Give it your best – Japanese word: ganbarimasu Root cause of the sound variation in the audiobook recording? Lean Blog Interviews podcast episodes with Katie Anxiety about talking about mistakes? Reflections on creating a culture where it’s safe to talk freely about mistakes? How can people learn with you, work with you? “Leading to Learn Accelerator” --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Show notes, video, and more: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake127 My guest for Episode #127 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Evans Kerrigan, Co-Founder & CEO of the firm Integris Performance Advisors. Evans is the co-author, with Brett Cooper, of the book Solving the People Problem: Essential Skills You Need to Lead and Succeed in Today’s Workplace. In today's episode, Evans tells his “favorite mistake” story from some client work that took place more than 20 years ago. The client was happy with the work, but he thought they “left a lot on the table” because ideas from staff were being overridden or changed by leadership. When did it click that there was a problem? What adjustments did he make? We talk about that story and other topics including: Happy with the results, but what’s sustainable? What builds a culture? Not blaming the people. Common leadership mistakes that you see? Tell us about the book It’s not a people problem… but we have friction in communication, etc. How to address setting the groundwork for listening? The book's website EQ survey — what’s my DISC EQ? - Use access code "favorite" to get it for free Lean podcast episode link --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Founder of the firm Inventium. Show page: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake126 My guest for Episode #126 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Dr Amantha Imber, she is an organisational psychologist and founder of behavioural science consultancy Inventium. She and I share a belief… “Work doesn’t have to suck!” As it says on the front page of her website. Amantha is the author of two best-selling books: The Creativity Formula and The Innovation Formula. She’s the host of a podcast: “How I Work.” In today's episode, Amantha tells her “favorite mistake” story about tying her achievements to self worth. How did she discover that pattern? What did she learn and what did she do about it? We talk about that story and other topics including: Positive framing (start doing) of habit change vs. negative (stop doing)? I first learned of you because of a piece you wrote on LinkedIn that I really enjoyed… it was titled: Your “Failure Resume” Why did you frame that as an experiment? Amantha's failure resume Experiments — others coming along with you — how many? “My Year of Better” “My natural inclination was to hide my failures.” Why was that? As a child, you said: “But in addition to being competitive, I was also a perfectionist.” Why is that combination of perfectionism and competitiveness a problem? Tell us about your firm Inventium Like Samantha, Without the S — name of an album you released? Find Amantha on Social Media: Twitter LinkedIn --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support