My Favorite Mistake: Business Lessons from Failures and Success

Brewer Kelly Meyer Started a Damn Brewery at the Wrong Damn Time

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?
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Certified Financial Planner Manisha Thakor Saved Too Much for Retirement

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.
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Workplace Therapist Brandon Smith Stayed in a Comfortable Teaching Job Too Long

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
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Vicki Moore Gave Away Her Business and Found Moving to Europe Was Harder Than Expected

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
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Retired USAF Officer Mark Noon Thought Career Transitions Would Be Easy

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
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Author Katie Anderson’s Audiobook Mistakes and What She Learned in the Process

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”
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Consultant Evans Kerrigan’s Early Client Was Happy But It Could Have Been So Much More

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
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Organizational Psychologist Amantha Imber Linked Her Self Worth to Achievements

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
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VP of Finance Kevin Foster Was Swept up in Conspiracy Charges and Went to Prison

CEO of Business Ethics Advisors, LLC.
Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake125
My guest for Episode #125 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Kevin Foster, the CEO of Business Ethics Advisors, LLC. He is a former financial executive with FDIC-Division of Liquidation, Standard Chartered Bank, and Dr Pepper Co., a 30-year veteran in real estate, and a former CPA with Peat, Marwick & Mitchell (now KPMG).
Kevin’s journey took him from corporate real estate executive to a convicted felon (37 months in prison with 28 days in solitary confinement).
Now, Kevin uses his E.T.H.I.C.S. tools to provide ethics awareness and solutions so that others will be prepared to identify the personal characteristics and circumstances leading to unethical behavior.
In today's episode, Kevin tells his “favorite mistake” story about being a finance executive with a real estate company and how he got swept up in criminal conspiracy charges for basically being in the wrong job at the wrong time and for not quitting when he saw red flags.
We talk about that story and other topics including:
What fraud was being committed by the company you were working for? How did that lead to your personal conviction?
Kevin quit – but got talked into coming back…
Was tying to avoid charges… “conspiracy” charges harder to get out of, doing “anything” that advances the conspiracy means you're complicit (even being in one meeting)
How did “ethical problems” turn into legal problems?
Why he's “shocked” that no other Theranos employees are facing charges
What it's like for a white-collar person to go to prison??
Preparing for incarceration?
“Everything that happens… must happen… for a reason”
“Three Felonies a Day” book – white collar professionals – so many laws that can get you thrown in prison
Too many ethics programs are rules-based, video based
He teaches values-based ethics
Why are people unethical?
Does anybody question if a convicted felon can be teaching them ethics? Learning from mistakes personified…
Find Kevin on Social Media:
LinkedIn – Individual
LinkedIn – Company
This podcast is part of the Lean Communicators network.
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.
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

CEO Brent Cassity Trusted His Dad and Ended Up in Prison for Fraud and Conspiracy

Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake124
My guest for Episode #124 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Brent Cassity, author of the new book Nightmare Success: Loyalty, Betrayal, Life Behind Bars, Adapting, and Finally Breaking Free: A Memoir.
Brent also has a podcast – “Nightmare Success In and Out,” which explores the stories of inmates who were in and now out of prison.
Brent was a CEO of a national company, Forever Enterprises, that was recognized in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, TIME, FORTUNE, to name a few. HBO did a documentary on their company titled “The Young and the Dead” that spawned the dramatic series “Six Feet Under” – a highly acclaimed series that I really enjoyed.
As it says in his bio, Brent “had it all and lost it all…” as what happened led to Brent and his family’s story (and the story of their company National Prearranged Services Inc. (NPS) — being an episode of CNBC’s “American Greed” documentary series.
In today's episode, Brent tells his “favorite mistake” story about how trusting his dad, who had already been convicted for fraud, led to him getting into a lot of hot water with the feds… with many lessons learned in the process that he's kind enough to share with us today.
We talk about that story and other topics including:
Was your dad forthcoming about that first conviction?
Was the CNBC story that accurate?
Crimes and intent vs mistakes??
What the five rules that helped you survive prison that can be used in everyday life?
What happens when your worst fear becomes your reality? Nothing is ever as bad as your mind makes it out to be.
What has your life been like since you got out of prison?
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.
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support