My Favorite Mistake: Business Lessons from Failures and Success

Mark Graban

Episodes

Mentioned books

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Oct 4, 2021 • 38min

Bookkeeping Wasn’t Her First Career Passion: Ean Price Murphy

Founder of Moxie Bookkeeping Show notes and more: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake107 My guest for Episode #107 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Ean Price Murphy, who founded Moxie Bookkeeping & Coaching Inc in 2003 to work with creative businesses and nonprofits. In today's episode, Ean shares her “favorite mistake” story about believing financial advice without questioning it. She was told, and believed, the idea of “follow your passion and money will come?” Is that always true? It wasn't true for Ean in her first career, but she did, thankfully, find another field to be passionate about, as you'll hear her discuss. We talk about that and other topics including: Why it was a mistake to think she needed to just work harder to earn more How did you, personally, get into this line of work? What would you have done differently? Do that sooner? What are your thoughts on so-called “hustle culture”? What makes your firm different than other bookkeepers? You have an approach called “Profit First” system? What is this? “The 5 Money Myths” — free download Find Ean and her company on Social Media: LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support
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Sep 30, 2021 • 36min

Feeling Ashamed of Being Dyslexic and Getting Past That in Business and in Life: Scott Ballard

Coach, author, and speaker Show notes and links: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake106 My guest for Episode #106 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Scott Ballard, a coach, speaker, and author, based in Portland, Oregon. His company is Confidence Coach LLC. From his bio, Scott “has used that superpower [of encouragement] to help create insight and breakthroughs for hundreds of people to take their life and their business to the next level. [Scott] can do this because his dyslexia blinded him from seeing his own genius for many years, so he became brilliant at seeing the genius superpower in others.” In today's episode, Scott shares his “favorite mistake” story about feeling shamed for having dyslexia. How did he learn that it wasn’t shameful? How did he decide to share his dyslexia with people? We talk about that and other topics including: Joking about “being dyslexic” in a meeting — inappropriate? Learning from business failures, wife’s encouragement “Fail fast” New business – learned not everybody is an ideal client Coaching dyslexic leaders? Find Scott and his firm on social media: LinkedIn --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support
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Sep 26, 2021 • 36min

The Time Value of Life: Andrea Jones on Taking Years to Get Over Feeling Like a Failure

Consultant with two degrees from MIT Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake105 My guest for Episode #105 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Andrea Jones, founder and principal at her firm Andrea Jones Consulting. Andrea Jones has focused on efficient and effective Project Management and Change Implementation for over 20 years. She also loves process improvements, and has a natural instinct to always seek a better way to execute work. Andrea began her career at Intel Corporation, as a Process Engineer, and grew to love the use and analysis of data to make actionable recommendations. Andrea has an MBA from MIT Sloan, an Engineer Masters from MIT, a Masters in Chemistry from the University of Oregon, and a Bachelors in Chemistry and Japanese from the University of Oregon, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). In today's episode, Andrea shares her “favorite mistake” story about how she took a buyout from Intel, but then “felt like a failure” because “they didn't find a role” for her. Why did it take years to get over the “emotional baggage” and what did Andrea learn from that experience? We talk about that and other topics including: “The time value of life” Part-time consulting work models for moms (and for dads) Is it a mistake to not want to manage others? So hard to keep working moms in the workplace Might not have all the answers when we go into something Treat it as an experiment and “fail fast”? Admit failure, accept reality Simon Sinek's book The Infinite Game Do organizations crave certainty?? Do our brains? Find Andrea and her firm on Social Media: LinkedIn --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support
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Sep 23, 2021 • 35min

Fred Moore Learned to Make Himself Irreplaceable in His Job as a Magician

Corporate magician, speaker, emcee, and more Show notes and links: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake104 My guest for Episode #104 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Fred Moore, who has been a professional speaker and entertainer for the past 25 years, including roles as a corporate magician, event emcee, and more. Fred has done over 6,000 performances and presentations in 30 countries. In today's episode, Fred shares his “favorite mistake” story about putting himself in a position where he was “replaceable” at work. We'll hear about how he was fired from the beginning of a 9-month performing contract. What did Fred learn from this, for his own benefit and to help others learn from his experience? We talk about that and other topics including: Mistakes that happen as a stage performer? Things that REALLY throw you off? “How can I use my enemies and failure?” Virtual engagements — Pivots, mistakes, lessons? Certified Virtual Presenter? How did you get into magic? Fred's key lessons: Be irreplaceable, not a commodity Nobody cares more about you than you Wallowing in misery isn't that productive Haven’t failed if you learned something (videos) Find Fred on Social Media: Instagram LinkedIn Facebook YouTube --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support
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Sep 20, 2021 • 30min

Dr. Cheryl Lentz: Running From the Failure of Trying to be a Top-Level Organist

Author, speaker, professor Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake103 My guest for Episode #103 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Dr. Cheryl Lentz, “The Academic Entrepreneur.” She is a keynote speaker, faculty at five universities, publisher at The Lentz Leadership Institute She is the author of the book Failure Has No Alibi: Learning From the Lessons Failure Teaches. She had a podcast (still available for listening) called “Fail Faster, Succeed Sooner.” You can also watch her TEDx talk on the subject of failure. In today's episode, Dr. Cheryl tells her “favorite mistake” story about not being allowed to continue as an organ performance major in college. Why did she “run from that failure” to the point of abandoning music altogether? What would she have done differently and how does she help people “process failure”? What happens when we fail? Is failure an “f word”? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support
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Sep 16, 2021 • 44min

C-Level Execs Rolly Keenan and Mike Geller Both Learned From Mistakes

Chief Revenue Officer and Chief Technology Officer at Tegrita Notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake102 My guests for Episode #102 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast are two C-level executives from Tegrita, a marketing technology, strategy, and consulting firm based in Toronto. They are Rolly Keenan (Chief Revenue Officer) and Mike Geller (President and Chief Technology Officer) and they're two of the three authors of the book CMO to CRO: The Revenue Takeover by the Next Generation Executive. In today's episode, Rolly and Mike share their own separate “favorite mistake stories” from the consulting realm — related to Mike giving time away for free and how quitting a job helped Rolly be more authentic. We also chat about their book, their firm, “marketing automation,” and some mistakes that people make in that endeavor. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support
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Sep 13, 2021 • 29min

Getting Burned Out Trying to Help Busy Moms Find Balance: Kezia Luckett

Positive psychologist and Author My guest for Episode #101 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Kezia Luckett, a highly respected Positive Psychologist, three times international best-selling author of “The Pay it Forward Series: Notes to My Younger Self” and the creator behind two revolutionary modalities, The Energy Code® and Mind Conditioning Therapy®. https://www.markgraban.com/mistake101 In today's episode, Kezia shares her favorite mistake, from her time as the founder of a concierge service for busy moms... and how that, ironically, led to burnout -- and how she's learned to prevent repeating that mistake. Other topics and questions: Understanding that when things are going wrong… but we keep plodding through Walking away from a business - learned there is a new way Your current business - how to not repeat mistakes? Designed her business around my life - didn’t design work around her life the first time… Is our work or life on autopilot?? What is positive psychology? Decoding & Releasing Your Past? Find Kezia on LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support
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Sep 8, 2021 • 38min

Scott Miller’s Favorite Messes (or Mistakes) in Executive and Marketing Roles

FranklinCovey executive, author of books including Marketing Mess to Brand Success Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake100 My guest for Episode #100 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Scott J. Miller, a long-time executive with FranklinCovey. Scott is the author of books including Everyone Deserves a Great Manager, Management Mess To Leadership Success: 30 Challenges to Become the Leader You Would Follow, and his latest book, Marketing Mess to Brand Success: 30 Challenges to Transform Your Organization's Brand (and Your Own). He's also the host of the podcast, "On Leadership with Scott Miller," where he has interviewed people including Adam Grant, Elizabeth Smart, John Maxwell, Matthew McConaughey, and Stephen M.R. Covey. In today's episode, Scott shares his favorite mistake, from his time as a Chief Marketing Officer and how being an "idea fountain" was a mistake, as he learned. We also get a bonus "favorite mistake" story about a marketing promotion gone wrong. Other topics and questions: Multipliers - his favorite leadership book either written - Liz Wiseman (or are we “diminishers”?) How did you bring this up and resolve this with your team? Questions that aren’t really questions? Can you be an expert in everything? Safe to say, “I don’t know”?? The Speed of Trust - Stephen M.R. Covey How important to you is “manager” vs. “leader”?? How do you define a “great” mangager in a nutshell? On Leadership - guest messes? McConaughey Greenlights book The E.F. Hutton reference - example commercial Find Scott on: LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support
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Sep 1, 2021 • 49min

A College & Pro Football Kicker’s Practice Routines Were a Mistake? Brion Hurley

Former kicker and punter for Iowa, various pro teams Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake99 My guest for Episode #99 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Brion Hurley, a friend of mine from Lean Six Sigma professional circles, who I recently learned was an American football kicker and punter in college (Iowa Hawkeyes) and a number of professional teams (the NFL and Arena Football). Brion is the founder of his company, Business Performance Improvement and he's a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. He's the author of a free eBook called Lean Six Sigma for Good: How improvement experts can help people in need, and help improve the environment and he's the host of two podcasts: Lean Six Sigma for Good and Lean Six Sigma Bursts. In today's episode, Brion shares his “Favorite Mistake” story about the practice routines he developed as a kicker at the University of Iowa. Why was it a mistake to focus so much on practicing long field goals and how did that affect his performance in games? What was it like to lose his starting job? What did that teach Brion about mistakes in our careers? Other topics and questions: Lessons from practicing wrong? Not evaluating the misses? What was your mindset on the pressure of a kick that might be seen live by 70,000 fans or more on TV? Game winning kicks or opportunities? Hayden Fry story about Northwestern Referee mistakes? Social media age – criticism and threats toward kickers A blog post I wrote about fans blaming a college kicker How has this affected your view on workplace pressure now? Can we develop bad habits without a coach? Video of Brion's kicking highlights from Iowa Read a piece he wrote about his kicking mistakes Find Brion onYouTube LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support
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Aug 30, 2021 • 45min

Karene Lambert-Gorwyn Will Fire You for Hiding a Mistake, Not For Making One

Mumpreneur, Property Investor and Success Coach Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake98 My guest for Episode #98 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Karene Lambert-Gorwyn. She’s a Mumpreneur, Property Investor and Success Coach, Karene Lambert-Gorwyn balances being a full-time mother with running 3 businesses and an ever-expanding property portfolio. A former management consultant, she brings years of successful corporate experience along with her own unique insights to the health industry, Karene helps practitioners scale from six to seven figures. You can get a free strategy session with her via her firm's website. Karene is the co-author (with husband and business partner Chris) of Grow Your Heart Centred Business: From Passion to Profit. In today's episode, Karene shares her "favorite mistake" story about making it "wrong" to be herself and why, for a while, she had only achieved the "facade" of success. Other topics and questions: What does it mean for a business to be “heart centred”? What types of businesses or entrepreneurs do you work with? Being yourself? What's the application of that idea to your clients? Progressionist not a perfectionist Being open about mistakes Won’t get fired for admitting a mistake Will get terminated immediately for lying or hidingmistakes You need to almost celebrate them, treat them as learning moments Husband and business partner — the bonus of learning from each other Get a free strategy session with Karene and Chris Find Karene on LinkedIn YouTube --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

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