My Favorite Mistake: Business Lessons from Failures and Success

Angelo Ponzi Didn’t Do His Due Diligence on His First Business

Show Notes: https://www.MarkGraban.com/mistake120
My guest for Episode #120 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Angelo Ponzi, Founder / President of the Ponzi Group (now called Craft Marketing Architects). Angelo is a fractional CMO, business advisor, marketing architect, keynote speaker, and author.
He's also host of the podcast called Business Growth Cafe.
In today's episode, Angelo shares his “favorite mistake” story about not doing his due diligence when he started a film production company that failed in eight months – and what he learned from this that helped him when he tried again. We also talk about the elephant in the room — his last name and the name of his firm.
We talk about that story and other topics including:
What does it mean to be a marketing architect?
Mistakes in understanding customers?
Marketing mistakes that you see and help people avoid?
I love wine… can you tell us about the work you did with a wine brand to boost demand and sales?
The importance of testing ideas and marketing efforts
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CFO Melanie Pump Didn’t Want to Share Her Rocky Childhood With Colleagues

Show Notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake119
My guest for Episode #119 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Melanie Pump, an accomplished Chief Financial Officer and business leader from Toronto. She is “a survivor, a business leader and a deep believer in the power of positive, supportive work environments.” She's also the author of the book DETOX: Managing Insecurity in the Workplace.
In today's episode, Melanie shares her "favorite mistake" story about not wanting to share the story of her "rocky childhood" with her colleagues. How did Melanie go from being a high school dropout to a corporate executive?
We talk about that story and other topics including:
What sort of reaction do you get when you tell the story?
Vulnerability is helpful? Showing it as a leader... admitting mistakes as a leader...
What inspired you to write the book?
Worked in some toxic workplaces?
Getting past insecurity? Is insecurity the root of many other problems?
Wasn’t asking “why” that person seems insecure?
How can we help others?
Toxic behaviors?Passive aggressiveness
Avoidance / procrastination
Defensiveness
Does insecurity lead to the appearance of arrogance that leads to toxic environments?
Addressing imposter syndrome?
Gender differences??
What do you do as CFO (and the rest of the C-suite) to guard against toxic work environments?
Why does this matter for business results???
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A Near-Death Experience Was a Wakeup Call for Marketer-Turned-Coach Matthew Korban

https://www.markgraban.com/mistake118 has show notes, links, and more.
My guest for Episode #118 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Matthew Korban, a Certified Health Coach, Executive Life Coach, and Motivational Speaker. Born in Beirut, but based in Ohio now, he is also a 5-time black belt martial artist who practices meditation and Yoga daily.
In today's episode, Matthew shares his “favorite mistake” story, the “first 40 years” of his life, as he put it, and how a surgical procedure was a “wake up call” and his “near-death experience” shifted him into significant weight loss (over 200 pounds) and a new career direction.
We talk about that story and other topics including:
Why was he working 15-16 hours a day? Status, money, attention
Is it tough marketing balance and a healthier lifestyle??
Cannot use some marketing tactics with people
Have to prioritize — we cannot have it all
Developing better habits? Make Positive Habit Changes
Giving away a free 50-minute coaching session
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Investment Banker Lynn Yap Was Pressured to Not Visit Her Dying Grandmother in Malaysia

Show page: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake117
My guest for Episode #117 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Lynn Yap, the Founder of Actv8 Network, whose mission is to increase the participation of women in the fields of technology, and entrepreneurship. She started her career as a corporate attorney, and then followed a traditional business path—graduating from the Wharton School with an MBA and working in investment banking.
Her curiosity led her to research more about using businesses as a force for good. Her book The Altruistic Capitalist: How to Lead for Purpose and Profit represents the culmination of conversations with leaders at for-profit corporations, entrepreneurs, and investors, and her personal experience.
In today's episode, Lynn shares her “favorite mistake” story, which led to her to leave investment banking after participating in the Facebook IPO. Why did she learn that she never again “wanted to sacrifice [her] values”?
We talk about that story and other topics including:
Did you go through a process of forgiving yourself?
Why did you start the Actv8 Network?
Interactive programs? For young women?
Gap — Tom Peters — need more women on boards, CEOs
The book: Focusing on all stake holders instead of just shareholders?
Business Roundtable statement — stakeholder capitalism
21 core metrics – people, the planet
What is the “altruistic capitalist mindset”?Mindfulness, curiosity, grit
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A ”Vaccine Administration Error” That I Experienced This Week

In today's bonus episode, host Mark Graban talks about an error that he was "victim" of this week. He was given the incorrect Moderna booster dose, being given the "full" 0.5 mL dose instead of the "booster" dose of 0.25 mL. This is, thankfully, an error that's not harmful (in fact, it may be to his benefit). But, everyone, from the CDC to the store, pharmacy manager agreed this was a "serious" error that "should not occur." How can we learn from mistakes like this so we prevent giving the wrong dose (or the wrong vaccine)?? Will learning from this help prevent future errors that might be more serious?
You can read more in a blog post that Mark about this.
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Musician & CEO Steve Gerein Thought it Would Be Easy to Get His Band on the Radio

My guest for Episode #116 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Steve Gerein, a musician and entrepreneur.
Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake116
He was previously the lead singer of the country band Aces Wyld and he is now the founder and CEO of SongShop, a platform that connects artists with independent songwriters, so they can turn their catalogs into profit via licensing opportunities.
In today's episode, Steve talks about how he thought it would be “sort of easy” to make it as a band, eight or nine years ago in Canada (where he still lives). We talk about that and how he started a company that utilizes his domain knowledge.
We talk about other topics including:
A band is like a startup?
It’s not happening — but why?
What tweaks can you make to the band?
Making music vs. the business of music
What are some of the opportunities to improve the model around buying or selling songs as a musician?
The average song that’s written earns just $43 — why is that, how does SongShop help?
Tools you can use when doubt and fear step in, and how to overcome them both in your professional and personal life?
Other episodes that came up:Dr. Greg JacobsonDr. Kelly Henry
Find Steve on Social Media:
Twitter
LinkedIn
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Money Mistakes With Currencies or International Transfers: Kelly Cutchin

Show notes page: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake115
My guest for Episode #115 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Kelly Cutchin, the Country Manager at Moneycorp, a global currency exchange leader and she has helped many Americans make overseas investments. She has over a decade of experience in the foreign exchange industry. She joined Moneycorp in 2006 as the first American employee.
In today's episode, Kelly shares her “favorite mistake” story from working at a restaurant as a teenager, and how that story came when her CEO asked people around the table about a mistake they made (his was an expensive mistake involving M&Ms production). Kelly learned that we all make mistakes and it's OK to not have the answer to every question. She's also learned about the mistakes people make related to international business or real estate transactions.
We talk about that and other topics including:
CEO asked “what’s your biggest mistake” around an event table
Mistakes people make investing overseas?
Corporate mistakes with transferring money overseas?
Mistakes people planning to retire overseas?
Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies?
Undoing people’s mistakes?
Find Kelly and Moneycorp on Social Media:
Twitter
LinkedIn
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Getting Burned Out and Separating From His Wife: What Carlos Hidalgo Learned and How He Adjusted

Show Notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake114
My guest for Episode #114 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Carlos Hidalgo, an author, International & TEDx Speaker, marketer, consultant, coach, and advisor.
Carlos is a co-host of The Life Design Podcast (with his wife Susanne) and is the author of the book Book: The UnAmerican Dream: Finding Personal and Professional Happiness Establishing Work-Life Boundaries.
In today's episode, Carlos shares his “favorite mistake” story about getting off track and burned out, professionally and personally, by putting his identity and purpose into his profession.
We talk about that and other topics including:
My mention of a previous episode #31 Greg Jacobson – cohabitating with your spouse
What happens when business doesn’t go well?
2015: came to a head, was burned out… relationship struggles, then separation
Hustle culture… can be problematic (“garbage”)
LinkedIn – “it’s OK to not have a work/life balance”
What do you mean by “Designing Your Life”? Podcast?
Allowing life to just happen? Or designing it?
Find Carlos on Social Media:
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook
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CEO Gena Cox Was Cavalier in Quitting a Job

Show page: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake113
My guest for Episode #113 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Gena Cox, PhD PCC, an industrial psychologist, executive coach, author, and speaker. She has advised corporate leaders for 20+ years how to build organizational cultures that support innovation, inclusion, and employee engagement.
Gena earned a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of South Florida and is also the Founder/CEO of Feels Human, Inc. She has a book coming out in 2022 called Leading Inclusion.
In today's episode, Gena shares her “favorite mistake” story about leaving a company in a way she thinks was “cavalier” — regretting that she couldn't recreate that same culture elsewhere. Sometimes, yon’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.
We talk about that and other topics including:
How did recognition of mistake reveal itself?
Feels Human, Inc. — what is a “human first organization”
Human first doesn’t mean human only?
“Inclusive leadership matters” — Beyond being the right thing to do from a human perspective, what are the connections between D&I to business results?
Inclusion as a component of “effective leadership”
Behaviors that are more inclusive?
Diversity easier to measure than inclusion?
Definition of inclusion?
Blog post — “Why are you always talking about race?”
The book — coming 2022, Leading Inclusion
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Coach Brian Buck’s Darkest Moment in a Workplace Turned Toxic: Should Have Quit Sooner

Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake112
My guest for Episode #112 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Brian Buck, a “success curator” who helps people have masterful communication & powerful relationships so they achieve amazing results — transformational coach for small- and medium-sized businesses. He's also co-host of the "People, Purpose and Profits Business Coaching" show on YouTube -- and it's also a podcast.
In today's episode, Brian shares his “favorite mistake” story about waiting too long to address being in a good workplace that turned toxic. Why was this his “darkest moment”? Why was this all a “never again moment” for Brian?
We talk about that and other topics including:
Leaders were undermining everything, passive aggressive
They were little things… Brian said “I can handle it” — but it kept going
Can you believe leaders when they say things like:“This is a safe place to talk”
“My door is always open”
“I’m not political”
How to have empathy for managers
Bringing up elephants in the room without being a jerk
Non-violent communication
The book Crucial Conversations
Find Brian on Social Media:
LinkedIn
YouTube
Twitter
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