My Favorite Mistake: Business Lessons from Failures and Success

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
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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”?
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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.
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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
LinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTube
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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:
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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 onYouTubeLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitter
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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
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An NFL Player’s Business Struggles and His Identity Shift: Anthony Trucks

NFL athlete, American Ninja Warrior, and entrepreneur.
Show notes and more: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake97
My guest for Episode #97 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Anthony Trucks, a foster kid turned NFL athlete. This is the first time I’ve interviewed somebody who was on American Ninja Warrior.
Anthony is the author of the new book, released this week, titled Identity Shift: Upgrade How You Operate to Elevate Your Life. Visit the show notes page for a chance to enter to win a copy of the book!
Anthony's also an international speaker, host of the Aww Shift and Shift Starter podcasts, author and founder of Identity Shift coaching. He’s a serial entrepreneur with one serious super power: Making Shift Happen, no matter what, by accessing the power of identity.
In today's episode, Anthony shares his “favorite mistake” story about the first business he started after the NFL, a personal training business with a huge lease in the economic downturn of 2009. How and why did he seek out help and why was “being forced to figure it out” his favorite mistake?
Other topics and questions:
“When you drop your ego, past mistakes, flaws, and fear of failure, you can find your internal fire to catapult you into the life that you want and deserve.”EGO – Everybody’s Greatest Obstacle
Fear of failure? —> How did you view the possibility of making mistakes on the field as a football player?
6 levels of failure – above or below the learning line“Version failure” – learns from the mistake
“Predictable failure” – knowing we can’t be perfect
What is identity? — we have different identities at different timesIt’s who we are when we’re not thinking about who we are
What does it mean that your survey says I'm a “slow dreamer”?
How did you find you new identity after your NFL career ended suddenly? Identity shift?
Find Anthony on
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
LinkedIn
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Software Product Manager Melissa Perri Got Stuck in the ”Build Trap”

Author of Escaping the Build Trap
Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake96
My guest for Episode #96 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Melissa Perri.
She is the author of the book Escaping the Build Trap: How Effective Product Management Creates Real Value.
Melissa does many things, including hosting the podcast Product Thinking with Melissa Perri. She is Founder & CEO of Produx Labs. Melissa created the online school Product Institute, where she has shared her scientific approach to Product Management with over 3500 students. She also started a program called the CPO Accelerator.
In 2019, Melissa was appointed to the faculty of Harvard Business School to teach Product Management in the MBA program.
Melissa is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, having addressed audiences in over 35 countries. She has a B.S. in Operations Research and Information Engineering from Cornell University.
In today's episode, Melissa shares her “favorite mistake” story related to working for a software company, where they produced a big requirements document and then built software that, basically, nobody wanted to use. People SAY they’ll use it, but really??
Other topics and questions:
How do we know if it’s a great startup idea?
The Highest Paid Person's Opinion?
Risk of creating smaller batches but not being open to experiments not working out
*MVP – minimum viable product
Delegating the things you’re really good at
Didn’t listen to gut over advice, warring with herself for years
“Experiment theatre”
What is “The Build Trap”?
As a consultant, have to be careful not naming names when presenting on stage or doing podcasts… everyone’s on a journey
Product management mistakes?
Is the problem the product managers or the company?
Find Melissa onTwitterLinkedIn
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Entrepreneur & Investor Susie Carder Was Overleveraged and Got Burned

Serial Entrepreneur and author of Power Your Profits
Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake95
My guest for Episode #95 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Susie Carder. She is a Profit Coach & Founder at SC Consulting. Susie has over 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur, building seven multi-million dollar companies, selling two that she built to $10M.
She is the author of a book, released last year, titled Power Your Profits: How to Take Your Business from $10,000 to $10,000,000. Her book's website is PowerYourProfitsBook.com.
In today's episode, Susie shares her "favorite mistake" story about getting destroyed financially in a three-year period starting in 2007, losing 90% of her wealth and her marriage. Her lesson learned was to "not be so overleveraged."
Other topics and questions:
Felt she didn’t have the energy to rebuild at age 42
Her identity was her work -- now what?
She went back into real estate because she was willing to learn from her mistakes
15% of entrepreneurship success is technical — another mistake is not learning finances
Being careful WHO you sell to
How she started her first business "on accident" while working as a hairdresser
Build your company AS IF you’re going to sell it
Talking about mistakes businesses might make…
What is the “cash crisis roller coaster”?
“Wealth is our birthright” -- but it's not easy nor handed to us
Mistake: Don’t admit to your team you are making it up
“I’m a really great coach because I’m a really good student”
Her program: Bullet Train to Big Profits Program
Find Susie onFacebookTwitterInstagramYouTubeLinkedInPinterest
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