My Favorite Mistake: Business Lessons from Failures and Success

New Job in Toyko, Mistakes on the First Day at Honda: Laura Kriska

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
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A New NFL Assistant Coach’s Many Mistakes: Dr. Jen Welter

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"?
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BONUS: MIT Prof. Jonathan Byrnes on Mistakes Related to the Covid Vaccine Supply Chain

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/
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The Hurting Hockey Player Who Felt Sorry For Himself: Dave Scatchard

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.
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Tom Peters on Getting Fired From McKinsey Because of His Long Hair?

Author of Excellence Now: Extreme Humanism.
Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake58
My guest for Episode #58 is Tom Peters, the legendary management speaker and consultant, author of 19 books including his latest: Excellence Now: Extreme Humanism.
You can also watch or listen to my interview with Tom back in August 2020 in my Lean podcast series.
Today, we talk about Tom's “favorite mistake” of getting fired from the consulting firm McKinsey for reasons that might include the long hair he had at the time. Other questions and topics include:
Why and how Tom got “caught up in the work” and “forgot the rules” while working at McKinsey
Why he hates “successful people who think they deserve their success”
What is humanism? What is “exteme humanism”?
Innovation means whoever tries the most stuff wins?
Why we should hire people who are “decent” and “nice”
Why research shows it's a mistake to not have 50% women in your executive team
Why it's a mistake to think only “noisy” people are the most creative, the best at sales, the best leaders
Tom Peters' party mistakes
Books he mentions:Compassionomics (The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence that Caring Makes a Difference)Warren Buffett Invests Like a Girl: And Why You Should, TooQuiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
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When Bill Maher Wanted Me Fired From Comedy Central: Founder Art Bell

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
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BONUS: Lori Baker-Schena on Two Bosses, Avoiding That or Managing That Better

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.
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Closing Her Psychology Practice To Take a Job: Dr. Neecie Moore

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”
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Being Defensive When Disagreeing With Marketing Clients: Swire Ho

Director of Sales & Marketing, Garuda Promo and Branding Solutions.
Show notes and links: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake55
My guest for Episode #55 of “the My Favorite Mistake” podcast is Swire Ho, Director of Sales & Marketing, Garuda Promo and Branding Solutions. He is also an Ambassador for the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Swire immigrated to Los Angeles in 1996. He trained as a sound engineer, working at recording studios and entertainment agencies before starting his own firm, Hellman Production, Inc, 2003 in Los Angeles.
Swire and his team successfully produced attractive, personalized DVD and CD cases and custom merchandise like T-shirts, earning a Score award in 2009, for small business success. His business eventually grew so popular, he sold it in 2013 to focus exclusively on the promotional product industry.
Swire is a proud SFG1 certified kettlebell instructor from #StrongFirst. He finds calmness through yoga, organic gardening, and enjoys being in nature.
Today, we talk about Swire's “favorite mistake” and topics and questions including:
How did he work to be a better listener and to not get defensive when disagreeing with clients?
How and why is he “constantly working on this”?
How did pivot during 2020 and the pandemic to branded masks and other products?
What are some common marketing and promotions mistakes?
Why don't you have to spend money to impress somebody?
Other social profiles:InstagramFacebookTwitter
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Pranks I’m Afraid Will Get Lisa David Olson Killed

Business humorist and the author of the new book Laughs On Wry: An Improviser's Memoir.
Show notes: https://ww.markgraban.com/mistake54
My guest for Episode #54 is Lisa David Olson a business humorist and the author of the new book Laughs On Wry: An Improviser's Memoir. She's an appropriate guest for today, given that it's the first day of National Humor Month.
Later this month (April 12th), my guest will be Art Bell — creator of the Comedy Central channel (which is celebrating its 30th anniversary today). I wish I had an entire month of funny guests… but there's two for you.
Lisa is a speaker, author, podcaster (“Stranger Connections“), and creative partner, who loves coffee and pranks! (the exclamation point is hers).
In today's episode, Lisa shares her “favorite mistake” of not writing her book earlier because she thought nobody would read it. I think my favorite mistake from the conversation was Lisa talking about a prank at her workplace, a police station, that I'm afraid could get her killed if she repeats it. We talk about those mistakes and topics including:
Why are you afraid of scaring the introverts?
Humor as her escape from a traumatic childhood
Helping businesses (and individuals) reignite their ideas… and their projects — how?
Humor as a connector
The risk of making mistakes when trying to use humor at work?
What are you doing for fun?
Humor as a gift vs something that can be developed?
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