My Favorite Mistake: Business Lessons from Failures and Success

Author of "The Desire Factor" Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake63 My guest for Episode #63 is Christy Whitman, a Transformational Leader, Celebrity Coach and Law of Attraction expert, as well as the two-time New York Times bestselling author of The Art of Having It All and Taming Your Alpha Bitch. She is also the author of the international bestseller Quantum Success. Her new book The Desire Factor: How to Embrace Your Materialistic Nature to Reclaim Your Full Spiritual Power is available now. Christy has appeared on The Today Show, The Morning Show, and The Hallmark Channel and she has been a TedX speaker. Today, Christy and Mark talk about topics including: How did a new friendship point your career in a new direction? “A life of no excuses” — acknowledging mistakes means no excuses? Learning without beating yourself up? What is an “hyper-aggressive alpha bitch” and why is that, being that, a mistake for women? Why “watch your words“? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

TPS Manager, The Raymond Corporation Show notes and links: http://markgraban.com/mistake62 My guest for Episode #62 is Keith Ingels, the “TPS Manager” (Toyota Production System Manager) at The Raymond Corporation, a Toyota Industries Company. Learn more about the “Raymond Lean Management System., which is based on TPS. We had a longer conversation about this on my Lean podcast series, if you want to check that out. In today's episode, Keith and host Mark Graban talk about one of his “favorite mistakes,” misunderstanding what the common Lean /TPS method called 5S really was really about. How did he make the “mistake of bad assumption” in the course of that work? Why was that mistake repeated, and how could it have been avoided? Why was it a mistake to blame people for being messy? One key lesson was about how can we help others “discover the need” for an improvement or a method instead of “forcing” them to do it? Keith also discusses how they work to create a culture where it's OK to talk about mistakes, so we can learn about them — that's the key theme of this entire podcast series! The Raymond Corporation also offers a free “quick tips” series on improvement, if you want to check that out. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Author of The Business of We: The Proven Three-Step Process for Closing the Gap Between Us and Them in Your Workplace Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake61 My guest for Episode #61 is Laura Kriska. When she was just 22, Laura became the first American woman to work in the Tokyo headquarters of Honda Motor Company. Her experience working with thousands of middle-aged Japanese men inspired her to write her first book The Accidental Office Lady: An American Woman in Corporate Japan. Inspired to create a ‘WE building’ revolution, Laura wrote her latest book The Business of We: The Proven Three-Step Process for Closing the Gap Between Us and Them in Your Workplace – a new approach to diversity, cultural difference, and inclusion that will increase employee retention and productivity and prevent misunderstandings that lead to lost revenue, lost time and increased legal risk. In today's episode, Laura and host Mark Graban talk about her experiences working Japan and what she has learned about working across cultural and organizational divides. Laura also discusses topics including: How her mistake could have been avoided with one sentence Failing to see how “cultural data” matters – the ways people are different Why did she offend the “most important office lady”? A “quality circle” project about getting rid of the women's uniforms What do you mean by a “we” culture? What's the connection between “we” and the Japanese word “wa” (harmony) Is a “we culture”? more prevalent in Japan and other Eastern cultures? What does she mean by being on “the home team” in a country or a culture? Paul O'Neill as a “we builder” Her article: "Covid-19 is not killing us, polarization is" Laura on her first day of work: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/laura-kriska-she-her-0a93902a_mistakes-firstjob-webuilding-activity-6788436074688516096-rIvq --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Author Play Big: Lessons in Being Limitless from the First Woman to Coach in the NFL. Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake60 My guest for Episode #60 is Dr. Jen Welter. She has a PhD in Psychology and a Masters in Sport Psychology. Jen played professional and semi-pro football as a linebacker (on women's teams) and as a running back (for a men's team). She's most notably known for being the first woman to be hired as an assistant coach, when the Arizona Cardinals brought her in to be an assistant coaching intern during their 2015 pre-season training camp. She is author of the book Play Big: Lessons in Being Limitless from the First Woman to Coach in the NFL. In today's episode, Jen talks about breaking the “glass sideline” of NFL football and what it was like to work amongst men on the field and the sidelines. She openly shares some mistakes she made when she got so much attention in 2015 with the Cardinals, including “maintaining an air of perfection,” “not being open to help,” and getting taken advantage of since she didn't have an agent or others looking out for her. Jen also discusses topics including: Coaching and working with girls and how football is great for their self confidence and developing their bodies for strength, not just appearance What would we have seen if they did a reality show about her coaching? Or if they made a movie about her story? What are your biggest strengths as a football coach in terms of connecting with players? Knowing you played the game? Or more than that? Being a speaker — what sorts of messages for a corporate setting? Your unique value proposition is special – lean into it… be more special Authenticity – giving note cards to the players, “that’s what I would have wanted” Empathy is a leadership trait, period Has she watched "Ted Lasso"? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Senior Lecturer at MIT This is some bonus audio related to an episode of "My Favorite Mistake" that Prof. Byrnes and I recorded last week. I'm going to release his full episode in mid-May where we talk about his "favorite mistake" and his new book (released 5/11) on CHOOSE YOUR CUSTOMER: How to Compete Against the Digital Giants and Thrive. I had the chance to ask him about lessons and advice related to the Covid vaccination supply chain and roll out. It's very timely in a fast-changing vaccination landscape, so I wanted to share this now. You can read more here in an article he wrote: https://www.mdm.com/blog/strategy/how-to-structure-the-covid-19-vaccine-supply-chain/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Retired NHL player Dave Scatchard Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake59 My guest for Episode #59 is Dave Scatchard, a retired National Hockey League player who now serves others as a coach through his practice, All Star Coaching. Dave played for 6 different NHL teams, from 1997 to 2011, scoring 128 goals in 659 games. Before making the NHL, the team that drafted him, the Vancouver Canucks, wanted him to shift his playing style from “goal scorer” to “tough guy.” This led to many fights, at least five concussions, and post-retirement injuries had led to a three-year period full of pain, memory loss, and struggle. Having recovered, Dave now shares a systematic approach for both businesses and individuals to redesign their lives and operating systems and live a healthier, brighter future with all of the abundance that goes along with living what he calls “The Big Life.” In today's episode, Dave shares his compelling and dramatic story. Beyond his medical recovery, why was it helpful for Tony Robbins to curse at him on stage, demanding to know, “Why are you hurting those people?” by not stepping up to help others. How did helping others accelerate his own personal progress? Dave talks about his “favorite mistake” of spending three years cursing his former career, asking God why he was punishing him, and looking at himself as a victim. He talks about the importance of his faith, his amazing recovery, and the power of positivity in this special episode. FOR A FEW MORE DAYS, you can join his free “Reawaken the Champion Within” Challenge. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Tom Peters, author of Excellence Now: Extreme Humanism, talks about his favorite mistake of getting fired from McKinsey, possibly due to his long hair. They also discuss the importance of humanism, why we should hire decent and nice people, the mistake of not having 50% women in executive teams, and the misconception that only noisy people are the most creative. They also touch on innovation and the significance of trying new things, as well as the importance of humanizing products and services.

Creator of Comedy Central, author of the book Constant Comedy Notes and links: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake57 My guest for Episode #57 is Art Bell, the creator of The Comedy Channel (which later became Comedy Central). He's also the author of the book Constant Comedy: How I Started Comedy Central and Lost My Sense of Humor, and co-host of the podcast “Constant Comedy.” Today, we talk about Art's “favorite mistake” (it involves the comedian and talk show host Bill Maher) and topics and questions including: The ad campaign for “Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher” and how that ended up leading to an award Why it's bad to surprise the talent Did Al Franken walk out on “State of the Union: Undressed” because he didn’t know it was going to be live?? Was that show a better fit, the next year, for Dennis Miller? Having to often talk Nancy Grace into going on the air on Court TV Is it risky to write a memoir like this? Did you need lawyers involved to make sure you weren’t making a mistake? Jon Stewart – on “Short Attention Span Theater, was it a mistake to fire his co host Patty Rosborough without taking to him? – telling or asking? He was surprised… Mistake for them to not make him the original host of The Daily Show? Mistake for Michael Fuchs to say the programming quality was a 2 or 3 out of 10? You decided quickly it was a mistake to say you were quitting? New York mag called the channel “the biggest flop in years” Making adjustments?? PIVOTED and made changes as quickly as we could Getting fired from Comedy Central and lessons learned --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

I'm joined again by Lori Baker-Schena for a follow-up question related to her appearance in Episode 48: Two Bosses Who Didn’t Like Each Other: Lori Baker-Schena Since Lori has a PhD in organizational leadership, I get to ask a question that was suggested by my wife after she listened to the episode. It was a mistake to have not asked that follow up question :-) So, I ask Lori if organizations should avoid a situation where somebody has two bosses or if it just needs to be managed better. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Owner of LCI Life Coaching Institute. Show notes and links: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake56 My guest for Episode #56 is Dr. Neecie Moore, owner of LCI Life Coaching Institute. For over 25 years Dr. Neecie has been inspiring, motivating and transforming audiences to align and connect with their destiny. Her vast experience as a successful business leader and an endless pursuit of advanced education, including a PhD in psychology, has her being heralded and celebrated by industry leaders like Tony Robbins, Dr. Patricia Love, and Dr. Harville Hendrix as a life coaching industry leader. Dr. Neecie Moore“YOU deserve extraordinary, in your relationships, your finances, your endeavors. You deserve extraordinary peace of mind, peace in the valley, and an extraordinary piece of the action. YOU deserve extraordinary!” Today, we talk about Dr. Neecie's “favorite mistake” of shutting down a practice she had built to take a job. Why did she immediately think that was a mistake? Why did people tell her it was a mistake to start a practice in the first place? What mistakes did she make with that first practice? What lessons did she learn and apply to later starting her second practice? We talk about that and: The mistake of thinking she could help everybody The importance of not just training, but also certifying, life coaches The neuro psychology of change Working with Tony Robbins Her workshop: “Uncover your Extraordinary Power of Purpose” --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support