My Favorite Mistake: Business Lessons from Failures and Success

The Dangers of Overtraining: Jure Koscak’s Path to Self-Awareness and Healing

My guest for Episode #285 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Jure Koscak, a former professional table tennis player who competed for 15 years at the highest levels.
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Alongside his athletic career, Jure pursued a deep interest in sports psychology, which eventually led him to earn a Ph.D. in physical education. For the past 15 years, he has specialized as a high-performance mental coach, working with over 50 professional athletes across various sports, as well as more than 1,000 private clients.
Jure is a polyglot, fluent in six languages, including Slovenian, English, Spanish, German, Serbo-Croatian, and French. His diverse background and experience allow him to connect with a wide range of clients, helping them not just to survive but to thrive in both their sports careers and personal lives.
In this insightful conversation, Jure shares his favorite mistake—his hip injury, which he attributes to a combination of arrogance and overtraining. Despite his professional success, Jure reflects on how he neglected the early warning signs from his body, overworked himself, and disregarded the balance necessary to sustain long-term performance. This mistake, which eventually led to a debilitating hip injury, forced him to confront the importance of listening to his body and respecting its limits.
Jure also discusses his transformation from athlete to coach, explaining how he now uses his experiences to help others avoid the same pitfalls. The episode explores the mind-body connection, overtraining, chronic pain, and how unresolved emotional issues can manifest physically. Jure introduces the AEQ Method, a somatic approach that helps individuals reconnect with their bodies, reduce chronic pain, and elevate emotional maturity. His goal is to empower athletes and individuals to become more self-aware, both mentally and physically, so they can perform at their best without sacrificing long-term health.

Questions and Topics:
What would you say is your favorite mistake?
How would you say injuring your hip was a mistake?
Did your hip injury occur during your peak in table tennis?
Did that injury end your career?
Was there a moment when you realized you weren’t listening to your body, or had you been aware of the mistake earlier?
Can you explain the AEQ Method and how it helps people?
How did you transition into coaching non-athletes?
How do people find you—are they seeking balance, dealing with pain, or something else?
Why do people self-sabotage, and is it tied to trauma or fear?
Why do people continue with behaviors they know are harmful?
How did helping 1 million people with chronic pain become your mission?
How much of positivity is personality versus something we can develop and learn?

Creating Inclusive Workplaces: Minette Norman’s Insights on Psychological Safety

My guest for Episode #284 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Minette Norman, an author, speaker, and leadership consultant who previously spent decades leading global technical teams in the software industry. 
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Minette has extensive experience leading internationally distributed teams and believes that when groups embrace diversity in all its forms, breakthroughs emerge, and innovation accelerates. 
Her most recent position before starting her consultancy was as Vice President of Engineering Practice at Autodesk.
Minette is a keynote speaker on inclusive leadership, psychological safety, collaborative teams, and empathy. She was named in 2017 as one of the “Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business” by the?San Francisco Business Times and as “Business Role Model of the Year” in the 2018 Women in IT/Silicon Valley Awards. 
In this episode, the conversation covers the critical importance of psychological safety and inclusive leadership in the workplace. Minette shares stories from her tech career, highlighting the challenges of navigating power dynamics, cultural differences, and the role of empathy in leadership. She emphasizes the need for leaders to create environments where individuals feel safe to speak up, make mistakes, and share diverse perspectives without fear of retribution.
Minette is the author of The Boldly Inclusive Leader and co-author of The Psychological Safety Playbook.
The discussion also touches on the common misunderstandings about psychological safety, such as confusing it with comfort, and explores practical ways leaders can foster a culture of openness and accountability while maintaining high performance and innovation.

Questions and Topics:
What is your favorite mistake, and what did you learn from it?
How did your mentee’s situation change your perspective on leadership?
Did you consider legal action when you faced bullying and had to leave tech?
How do you define psychological safety, and why is it so important?
Can you have too much psychological safety?
How can leaders assess and improve psychological safety within their teams?
What role do leaders play in fostering a culture where it’s safe to admit mistakes?
How do demographic differences impact experiences of psychological safety?
How universal are the concepts of psychological safety and inclusion across cultures?
What advice do you have for leaders hesitant to admit their own mistakes?

Jacob Stoller on Mistakes in Music: A Concert Train Wreck and Lessons Learned

In this bonus episode, Mark Graban sits down with author and speaker Jacob Stoller to discuss one of Jacob’s most memorable mistakes—a live performance mishap involving a botched page turn during a classical music concert.
As Jacob recounts, his decision to skip having a page-turner led to a "train wreck" moment in front of an audience, forcing the musicians to restart the piece. But this unexpected blunder turned out to be a surprising gift, making the experience more relatable and memorable for the audience.
Listen as Jacob reflects on how this mistake shifted his view on performance and connected him with listeners in a new way. Mark also shares his own story of a music slip-up, proving that even the most prepared musicians and performers can find themselves at a loss. This episode is a perfect blend of music, humility, and the valuable lessons we take from our mistakes.
🔗 Want to learn more about Jacob’s insights into performance and productivity? Check out his latest book, Productivity Reimagined: Shattering Performance Myths to Achieve Sustainable Growth, and listen to his full episode on the Lean Blog Interviews podcast.
⏩ Topics Covered:
The importance of learning from mistakes in any field
How to handle slip-ups and turn them into positive moments
Classical music, page-turning mishaps, and human connection through errors
Mark and Jacob's personal stories of musical mistakes and the lessons learned
 

Building Trust in Hostile Environments: Lessons from Retired Spy JJ Brun

My guest for Episode #283 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Jean Jacques “JJ” Brun… also known as Operative 431.
Episode page with video, transcript, and more
As a seasoned veteran of the Intelligence Branch of the Canadian Armed Forces, he served with distinction as a contact handler on the ground in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 
Years in the discrete world of human intelligence and counter human intelligence have driven my desire to understand human behavior’s intricacies and pass on the complex notion of interpersonal communication.
Although retired from active duty, JJ realized much of what he learned could be utilized in the civilian world. Based on the Four Temperament (DISC) Model of Human Behaviour to better understand and maximize human dynamics, his exclusive training programs provide a comprehensive analysis of communication techniques, empowering individuals to enhance authentic relationships that promote trust, innovation, and productivity.
In this episode, the conversation explores JJ Brun's transition from his role as an intelligence operative in the Canadian Armed Forces to applying his expertise in the civilian world. JJ shares stories from his time in Bosnia and the challenges of adapting to intelligence work without formal military training. He discusses key lessons learned, including the importance of self-awareness, situational awareness, and using behavioral models like DISC to understand and build relationships. The episode highlights how these skills, initially developed for high-stakes intelligence work, have proven valuable in helping leaders and organizations understand human dynamics more effectively.

Questions and Topics:
What does it mean to be a contact handler in intelligence?
What would you say is your favorite mistake?
Did anyone know you didn’t finish the last mile of the marchathon?
Was the training in the UK meant to prepare you for being on the other side of an interrogation?
How did you handle the potential for mistakes being deadly in intelligence work?
What was the Oka crisis?
What is involved in being a contact handler?
Was the debrief after your training focused on learning from mistakes, or did you get reprimanded?
How did you adapt to working in a war zone like Bosnia?
What’s the value of using the DISC model in your work today?
Can people learn more about your work and the DISC model through your website?

Former NFL & NCAA Referee Gene Steratore on Learning From Mistakes

In this special bonus episode of My Favorite Mistake, our guest (via Cameo) is Gene Steratore, a former NFL and NCAA basketball official known for his calm demeanor, fairness, and expertise on the field and court.
Episode page with video and transcript.
With over 15 years as an NFL referee and a longstanding career in NCAA basketball officiating, Steratore became a trusted figure in sports, celebrated for managing high-stakes games, including playoff and Super Bowl matchups. After retiring from officiating, he transitioned to broadcasting as a rules analyst for CBS Sports, where he brings insights on officiating decisions and the human element in sports.
Gene graciously shares his perspective on the importance of learning from mistakes both on and off the field. Gene reflects on the challenges of officiating, where striving for perfection meets the reality of human fallibility. He discusses the humility required to accept imperfection in the moment and the invaluable lessons mistakes provide for honing one's craft.
Beyond sports, Gene explores how these lessons translate to everyday life, emphasizing the importance of self-reflection, resilience, and growth. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to embrace the learning journey that comes with making – and learning from – mistakes.

How Christine King Went from Welfare to Pioneering Female CEO in Semiconductors

My guest for Episode #282 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Christine “Chris” King, who defied the odds as a single mother in the 1970s, rising to become the world's first female CEO in the semiconductor industry. Armed with degrees in electrical engineering, Chris climbed the ranks at IBM before leading billion-dollar companies like AMI Semiconductor, Standard Microsystems, and QLogic Corporation.
Episode page with video, transcript, and more
Her leadership extended across engineering, sales, and business management, and she even founded Expedition Electronics. Beyond technology, Chris is also a champion equestrian and dairy farmer. Her incredible journey is captured in Breaking Through the Silicon Ceiling.
In today's episode, Chris reveals how an initial mistake—pursuing electrical engineering to impress someone—unexpectedly launched her into a successful engineering and leadership career. Chris and Mark discuss the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated field, the importance of persistence, and her approach to leading successful business turnarounds.
We also touch on her experiences as a champion equestrian and a dairy farmer, drawing parallels between problem-solving in agriculture and business. Throughout the conversation, Chris emphasizes the value of learning from mistakes, building confidence, and leveraging opportunities for growth, offering listeners practical leadership insights and inspiration.

Questions and Topics:
What would you say is your favorite mistake?
Did the relationship with the guy who inspired you to study engineering work out?
As you went through your engineering education, did you have doubts? Did it feel like a mistake at first?
Why would a caseworker be resistant to letting you attend college?
Did you have to pitch your plan for going to college? How did you make it work financially?
What was it like being the first or only woman on teams early in your career?
When did you start transitioning from technical roles to leadership roles, and did you aspire to become a CEO?
How did the team you managed react to having a female boss?
What challenges did you face with your superiors as you advanced?
How did you feel about becoming a CEO for the first time, especially on 9/11?
Did the events of 9/11 affect your business?
What lessons did you learn from leading turnarounds, and how did you diagnose the issues?
Did you encounter similar challenges during other turnarounds, like the one during the 2008 financial crisis?
How did media attention around being the first female CEO in semiconductors affect you?
Who were some CEOs that you admired or learned from?
What are the three things any successful businessperson needs?
What three things do people not need to succeed in business?
How many women have followed your path in the semiconductor industry?
What lessons did you learn from dairy farming?
What lessons did you learn from equestrian competitions?
How do you see the parallels between leading a team and managing livestock or horses?
How do you approach creating a culture of learning from mistakes in leadership?
What inspired you to write your book, Breaking Through the Silicon Ceiling?
How do you reach the audience you want with your book, and what creative efforts have you made for that?
Who is the audience you’re hoping to inspire with your story?
What advice would you give for fostering interest in STEM among young women?

Unsubscribed: Why Political Texts Won't Leave You Alone, with State Sen. Stephanie Pitcher

In this special bonus episode of My Favorite Mistake, Mark Graban sits down with Senator Stephanie Pitcher, a criminal defense attorney (at Parker & McConkie in Utah) and Utah state senator, to discuss a modern campaign tactic that’s frustrating voters nationwide: political text messages. Senator Pitcher provides an insider’s view on why candidates rely on these texts to build name recognition, the rules governing them, and how campaigns respond (or sometimes don’t) to requests to “STOP.”
Mark and Stephanie dive into questions many of us have wondered: Is anyone really reading our responses to campaign texts? Are these messages effective, or do they risk driving away potential voters? Senator Pitcher shares her personal experiences with both sending and receiving political texts, the realities of balancing voter outreach with respect for privacy, and the challenge of navigating the fine line between visibility and annoyance.
For those curious about how campaign data is shared and why unsubscribing doesn’t always work as intended, Stephanie explains the often complex web of candidate PACs, third-party vendors, and data-sharing that keeps these messages coming. She also discusses her plans to explore more sophisticated social media advertising, leaving listeners with a thought-provoking view on the future of campaign outreach.
Tune in to hear a behind-the-scenes look at campaign messaging from a seasoned state senator’s perspective!

The Crown That Fell Off: Dr. Edward Feinberg's Favorite Mistake in Restorative Dentistry

My guest for Episode #281 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Dr. Edward Feinberg, a distinguished expert in restorative dentistry who has dedicated over 40 years to advancing dental care. Dr. Feinberg graduated from Tufts University, was trained by his father, Dr. Elliot Feinberg, a pioneer in full coverage restorative dentistry, and practiced in Scarsdale, New York, before moving to Arizona, where he now practices.
Episode page with video, transcript, and more
He is the Director of ONWARD, an online teaching organization for full coverage restorative dentistry, where he has created over 30 courses and provides a wealth of educational resources.
A nationally recognized lecturer and author, Dr. Feinberg has contributed significantly to dental literature, including his essay collection, "Open Wide: Essays on Challenges in Dentistry to Achieve Excellence." He also serves on editorial boards and councils for various dental associations and has been honored with numerous awards for his contributions to the field.
In this episode, Ed shares insights from over 40 years in the field and discusses his unique approach to saving teeth, which contrasts with the widespread practice of extracting teeth and opting for implants. Dr. Feinberg’s "favorite mistake" involved a crown falling off a colleague’s tooth—a rare but impactful error. Through this experience, he reinforced his belief in trial-based dentistry and using precise techniques to ensure long-lasting dental solutions.
Dr. Feinberg advocates for saving teeth first, using crowns and bridges when appropriate, and stresses that implants should only be used when absolutely necessary. The conversation also touches on the overuse of implants in modern dentistry, the importance of prevention, and learning from mistakes to improve patient care.

Questions and Topics:
What would you say is your favorite mistake?
Was that the first time a crown had fallen off, or was it just a rare occurrence?
Were you able to implement any checks or mistake-proofing to prevent this from happening again?
Can you explain the difference between focusing on the tooth structure above the gum versus below the gum?
How do you use temporary crowns, and why do some fall out while others don’t?
Do you believe dental education is keeping up with advancements in restorative techniques?
What are your thoughts on the current trends in implant dentistry?
Do you think a lot of dentists are making mistakes with implants, and why?
Are there preventive or mistake-proofing methods you apply in your practice to avoid common dental issues?
Why do you think patients typically don’t seek second opinions in dentistry, unlike in medicine?
Does the overuse of implants lead to malpractice cases or trouble with insurance?
Why are patients quick to judge dentists based on superficial factors rather than their actual dental work?
What are your thoughts on veneers—are they purely cosmetic, and when are they appropriate?
How can dentists better manage biomechanical stress when performing implant procedures?
Are there concerns about the future reputation of dentistry due to inappropriate practices?
What advice would you give to patients about prevention and the importance of regular dental hygiene visits?
Key Topics Discussed:
Dr. Feinberg’s favorite mistake: A crown falling off a colleague’s tooth and the lessons he learned about precision and correcting errors.
Restorative dentistry techniques: Focusing on the root structure below the gum for crown and bridgework to ensure long-lasting results.
The overuse of implants: Dr. Feinberg discusses the inappropriate use of implants and his preference for saving teeth when possible.
Dental education: Concerns that dental schools are not teaching the best restorative methods and the influence of economic pressures on young dentists.
Precision attachments: A less common, effective alternative to implants that can save teeth, especially for complex cases.
Patient care and trust: How patients often judge dentists on superficial factors and the importance of second opinions in dental treatment.
Preventive care: The importance of regular hygiene visits to prevent periodontal bone loss, which is crucial for long-term dental health.

Overcoming Mistakes in Tech Leadership: Steve Pereira's Journey with Flow Engineering

My guest for Episode #280 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Steve Pereira. He has spent over two decades improving the flow of work across organizations. He’s worked through tech support, IT management, platform and infrastructure engineering, product management, and as a founding CTO for enterprise SaaS.
Episode page with video, transcript, and more
He serves as CEO of Visible Consulting, as COO to the Value Stream Management Consortium, Chair of the OASIS VSM Interoperability technical committee, and co-founder of the Flow Collective to bring flow-focused professionals together. Since 2017, he has been developing and facilitating Flow Engineering.
He is the co-author of Flow Engineering: From Value Stream Mapping to Effective Action - his co-author, Andrew Davis, was a guest here recently. Steve and Andrew also joined me for an episode of "Lean Blog Interviews."
In this episode, Steve shares his journey in improving workflows and the lessons learned from his favorite mistake. Steve recounts how, in a previous role as a developer, he assumed that his own needs mirrored those of other developers, leading him to spend significant time creating a solution without gathering proper feedback. This isolated approach resulted in wasted time and an ineffective outcome. Through this mistake, Steve realized the importance of customer validation and iterative development, key principles he now applies in his work.
We also explored the concept of "failure debt," the role of psychological safety in fostering learning from mistakes, and how flow engineering can transform collaborative workflows.

Questions and Topics:
What would you say is your favorite mistake?
How did things play out with that mistake in your career?
How many other developers were you working with on this task?
When did you realize the project wasn't working, and how did you adjust?
How did you eventually start to learn from these mistakes?
When did these lessons become more clear to you in your career?
Can you elaborate on how sharing mistakes publicly helped lessen the sting over time?
How would you define 'flow engineering' for someone outside of software development?
How do you think mistakes, bugs, or defects affect flow? Do speed and quality go hand in hand?
What are your thoughts on how leaders can foster psychological safety and a learning culture where mistakes are embraced?
What is 'failure debt' and how can organizations address it?
Did the writing process for Flow Engineering reflect some of these lessons on customer feedback and iteration?
Key Topics:
Steve's favorite mistake of assuming his own needs were the same as other developers, leading to wasted time.
Importance of customer feedback and validation in technical projects.
The Abilene Paradox and how it relates to satisfying multiple stakeholders poorly.
Learning from mistakes over time, especially in leadership roles like CTO.
The impact of public accountability in lessening the sting of failure.
Definition and application of flow engineering to improve collaborative workflows.
The relationship between mistakes and flow, and how speed and quality work together.
The role of psychological safety in creating a learning organization.
Concept of failure debt and how unaddressed failures can accumulate, leading to bigger issues.
How Flow Engineering was written iteratively, applying lessons learned from Steve’s career.

The Biggest Mistakes Small Business Owners Make: Insights from Cynthia Kay

My guest for Episode #279 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Cynthia Kay, author of Small Business Big Success: Proven Strategies to Beat the Odds and Grow a Great Business.
Episode page with video, transcript, and more
As a business owner for over 35 years, Cynthia Kay has attracted well-known and respected customers from the global Fortune 100 to smaller forward-thinking businesses. Along the way, she has developed practical, actionable strategies for businesses from starting up to stepping out. 
As a former board chair of the National Small Business Association, she had advocated for small businesses and spoken to diverse audiences across the country. She has also mentored business owners as a member of the American Academy of Entrepreneurs. 
In this episode, Cynthia shares her journey as a business owner and the lessons she's learned along the way. Cynthia discusses her favorite mistake—starting her business with a partner who wasn’t a good fit. Despite planning out the financial and operational aspects, she overlooked the importance of aligning on working styles, values, and approaches to growth. Over time, their differing perspectives, particularly around scaling the business and relinquishing control, created tension. This led to the eventual dissolution of the partnership.
Through this experience, Cynthia developed the idea of a "business prenup," emphasizing the importance of thorough communication and alignment before entering into partnerships. She also offers advice on leadership, hiring, and building a resilient organization.

Questions and Topics:
What would you say is your favorite mistake?
Why do you think the partnership didn’t work?
How did things end up playing out with the partnership?
How quickly did those differences show up, or did they creep in over time?
How did you try to address those differences?
What advice do you have for others considering partnerships?
When you say the company had grown, how many employees did you have, or what was the scale of growth?
Can you tell us about the moment when you realized the partnership wasn’t working?
Can you talk about some of the common mistakes small business owners make?
What advice would you give about building a resilient organization after setbacks or mistakes?
How do you handle disagreements in your company, especially with different generations in the workplace?
What are the key traits that lead to success in your company?
How do you foster a culture where people feel comfortable admitting mistakes?
What are your thoughts on creating a learning organization?
What traits or behaviors do you look for in people who are successful at CK and Company?
Where can people find more information about you and your book?