My Favorite Mistake: Business Lessons from Failures and Success
Unlock Leadership Excellence: Tune into “My Favorite Mistake” with Mark Graban Are you a leader aiming to boost effectiveness, insight, and innovation? Join Mark Graban on ”My Favorite Mistake” (and no, it’s not the Sheryl Crow song), where top business minds, C-suite executives, and industry innovators share their pivotal mistakes and the powerful lessons they’ve learned. The Concept Embrace the transformative power of mistakes. Discover how errors can fuel leadership growth and creative problem-solving, turning each misstep into a masterclass in improvement and innovation. The Stories Dive into captivating interviews with international entrepreneurs, tech pioneers, accomplished athletes and entertainers, healthcare leaders, and award-winning authors. Each guest reveals how their significant mistakes shaped their careers and led to groundbreaking insights. The Breadth Explore a wide range of topics, from leadership psychology and organizational culture to process innovation and sustainability. Gain valuable perspectives to navigate the ever-changing business landscape. The Approach Guided by Mark Graban, an author and seasoned consultant, each episode delves into Lean Management (based on the Toyota Production System) and psychological safety, uncovering strategies for individuals and organizations to learn from their mistakes. Why Subscribe? Engage with Thought-Provoking Dialogues: Challenge conventional wisdom and explore new perspectives. Access Tools and Frameworks: Gain actionable insights for a competitive edge. Discover Innovative Opportunities: Learn how to turn mistakes into catalysts for innovation. Develop Emotional Intelligence and Resilience: Enhance your leadership skills and agile thinking. Transform your approach to leadership and success. Subscribe to “My Favorite Mistake” today and embark on a journey of relentless improvement through the power of learning from mistakes.
Episodes

Sunday Jan 17, 2021
Sunday Jan 17, 2021
Forrest Tuff, the founder and CEO of One Vision Productions, professional speaker, business coach, author.
Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake33
Joining me for Episode #33 is Forrest Tuff, the founder and CEO of One Vision Productions, an award-winning, multimedia production company. He does so many things...
Forrest is a creative person who is also business savvy (he calls himself a “filmpreneur”). He has 180+ movie credits that include documentaries, indie films, and a major motion picture with Twentieth Century Fox. He is the host of the Tuff Talk Show… and he was also a Division I basketball player.
Today, we talk about his "favorite mistake" of leaving a regular job (something others thought was a mistake). We talk about his views on the possibility of mistakes in making movies and taking three-point shots. We talk about his coaching through the SCORE program and how he defines servant leadership.
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Thursday Jan 14, 2021
Not Pushing Back on the Client’s Framing of the Problem with Michele Parrish
Thursday Jan 14, 2021
Thursday Jan 14, 2021
Consultant, founder and managing partner of Parrish Partners... MIT Leaders for Global Operations alum.
Show Notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake32
Please subscribe, rate, and review via Apple Podcasts or Podchaser!
Click here to enter to win a free “My Favorite Mistake” coffee mug!
Joining me for Episode #32 is Michele Parrish. She is a consultant and she is founder and managing partner of the firm Parrish Partners. Michele was previously an executive at Intel and one thing we share in common is that we're both graduates of the MIT Leaders for Global Operations Program.
In today's episode, Michele tells a story related to advising a CEO who called her in with a very particular problem in mind. Michele learned about the need to push back and to not be shy about disagreeing with the client about what the problem really might be. We'll talk about the importance of “emotional intelligence” (something she teaches about), systems thinking, and the need to slow down to pause and reflect.
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Sunday Jan 10, 2021
Sunday Jan 10, 2021
Emergency physician and CEO of KaiNexus, a technology company in Austin, TX
Show notes https://www.markgraban.com/mistake31
Click here to enter to win a free "My Favorite Mistake" coffee mug!
Joining me for Episode #31 is Dr. Greg Jacobson, an emergency medicine physician and the CEO/co-founder of KaiNexus, a technology and software company. In the interest of full disclosure, I will mention that I have worked with KaiNexus, in various capacities, since 2011 and I have an ownership stake in the company.
That said, Greg is one of the most interesting people you'll ever meet. Many startup CEOs launch their company at night while working their day job. Greg started KaiNexus during the days while working some nights as an E.R. doc.
In today's episode, Greg (always the overachiever) shares FIVE favorite mistakes from his career:
Not reading more
Not figuring out work/life balance
Struggling with the diffusion of CEO attention as the company grows
Not being appreciative enough
Not doing his own due diligence
We'll talk about all of that, the importance of creating a culture of continuous improvement in a company, and much more. I think you'll enjoy the conversation, as I did.
Please subscribe, rate, and review via Apple Podcasts or Podchaser!
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Wednesday Jan 06, 2021
Isao Yoshino & Katie Anderson on Mistakes, Leadership, Learning, and Culture
Wednesday Jan 06, 2021
Wednesday Jan 06, 2021
Toyota veteran Yoshino and business consultant Anderson... Japanese and American learning together.
Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake30
Enter to win a free "My Favorite Mistake" coffee mug! (through Jan 22)
Joining me for Episode #30 is Katie Anderson, the author of the book Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn: Lessons from Toyota Leader Isao Yoshino on a Lifetime of Continuous Learning. We are also joined by Mr. Yoshino, the subject of the book, who joined us from Japan. You can download a sample chapter via Katie's website.
I get the very unique opportunity to ask each of them about their “favorite mistake.” Mr. Yoshino tells a story from his early days at Toyota, where he learned the importance of not blaming individuals for systemic problems. He later retired from Toyota after nearly 40 years of work in Japan and the United States.
Katie then tells a story, from early in her career, about being a “bull in a china shop” during meetings and getting feedback that caused her to reflect and change.
We then talk about lessons from Toyota and their book, including the importance of creating a culture where it's safe for people to speak up about mistakes — either in a factory or in a hospital. Why is it important for leaders to create the conditions for people to be successful? Why should leaders take responsibility when mistakes happen? Why is intentional reflection the key to learning?
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Monday Jan 04, 2021
Not Knowing Who She Wanted to Work With: Kim Thompson-Pinder
Monday Jan 04, 2021
Monday Jan 04, 2021
"The extraordinary word ninja" - author, publisher, book coach...
Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake29
Joining me for Episode #29 is Kim Thompson-Pinder and she calls herself the “the extraordinary word ninja." Kim is Owner/Chief Visionary Officer at RTI Publishing House, and she is the author of five books. Her most recent title, being released soon, is Author to Authority (click for a free preview). Kim is also host of a podcast of the same name.
You'll hear Kim talk about that colorful phrase and why she uses it. You'll learn about her favorite mistake of getting overwhelmed with clients -- how she just "fell into" this sort of work and she didn't clearly define who she would want to work with. Is it a mistake to not have a book? Maybe not, but Kim will talk about the value of having a "signature book" that defines you and your business.
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Sunday Dec 20, 2020
Sunday Dec 20, 2020
Actor, comedian, writer, director... entertainer Mark Teich
Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake28
Joining me for Episode #28 is Mark Teich, an actor, comedian, writer, and director. Mark and I were high school classmates, both graduating from Livonia (MI) Churchill High School in 1991. I played drums in the pit orchestra for at least four musicals that Mark acted, sang, and danced in (he later earned BFA degrees in all three disciplines). We catch up about high school days a bit in the episode, if you'll forgive us.
Mark honed his improv skills in Chicago and New York performing and writing in famed troupes such as The Second City and the Upright Citizens Brigade. He also enjoyed a highly successful comedy career culminating in four certified gold CD's, a certified gold DVD, two Comedy Central Presents specials, five worldwide tours… He performed at a sold-out Carnegie Hall with comedy partner Stephen Lynch. He has starred in four Disney cable shows… has been seen on shows like "Monk" and "New Girl," and the movie "Leatherheads."
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been watching, say, a football game on TV… and there’s Mark Teich in a commercial. He’s been in commercials for more than 80 companies including Bacardi, Dell, Subway, Little Caesars, IHOP, Fidelity Investments, and TempurPedic… channeled MC Hammer in a Hallmark commercial that was named “World’s Best Commercial.”
He is currently starring as “Uncle Vin” in an online series called The Finchers, Presented by Viewsonic.
Today, Mark shares his "favorite mistake" which involves following others instead of charting his own path for his career. We also talk about actors auditioning for jobs and parallels to those of us who are "auditioning" in terms of sales presentations or other competitive settings.
I think you'll enjoy the conversation, as I did. This was a lot of fun and I appreciate Mark making the mistake of joining me for a really fun episode to end the year with.
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Thursday Dec 17, 2020
Making Business Decisions Out of Ego with Trav Bell
Thursday Dec 17, 2020
Thursday Dec 17, 2020
Australian, coach, "bucket listologist"
Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake27
Please subscribe, rate, and review via Apple Podcasts or Podchaser! We also have a new Facebook page for the podcast.
Joining me for Episode #27 is Travis (Trav) Bell, coming to us from Victoria, Australia. He's not our first guest from Australia, but he is our first Aussie accent!
Trav is a self-appointed "Bucket Listologist" a.k.a. "The Bucket List Guy." He is a coach and a Certified Speaking Professional, and is also Founder & CEO of his coaching firm. Trav previously founded & franchised a chain of personal training studios across Australia and that's one of the things we'll talk about today in the context of his "favorite mistake."
"Making business decisions out of ego," is how he describes his favorite mistake.
You can find him online via his websites TheBucketListGuy.com and BucketListCoach.com.
He also has a new book just out called My Bucket List Blueprint, available through Amazon.
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Sunday Dec 13, 2020
Doubting Herself as a Singer and Performer: Yaya Diamond
Sunday Dec 13, 2020
Sunday Dec 13, 2020
Singer, recording artist, podcast host, radio host, and more...
Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake26
Please subscribe, rate, and review via Apple Podcasts or Podchaser! We also have a new Facebook page for the podcast.
Joining me for Episode #26 is Yaya Diamond, a professional singer, recording artist, podcast host and (now) radio host. She's very dynamic and I've enjoyed our conversations very much (she's having me on her podcast as a guest shortly, something we've already recorded). You can tell why she is a professional entertainer and I am not :-)
Yaya says that her "favorite mistake" is not trusting her own abilities and talents, which has sometimes held her back, as we'll discuss. Yaya has worked to stop repeating this mistake, using a "5-4-3-2-1" method that she learned that helps her avoid overthinking situations. We talk about making mistakes on stage as a performer (and I share a personal mistake that I made as a member of the Northwestern University Marching Band).
I think you'll enjoy the conversation, as I did.
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Wednesday Dec 09, 2020
Sorority President Leadership Mistakes with Val Ries
Wednesday Dec 09, 2020
Wednesday Dec 09, 2020
Val = leadership trainer, executive coach, "management muse"
Show notes: https://www.markgraban.com/mistake25
Joining me for Episode #25 is Val Ries, a leadership trainer, an executive coach and a "management muse." She's a nurse with an MBA and her firm is called Executive Muse.
Val has a book due out in April 2021 called Chief Inspiration Officer, so I'm looking forward to that. You can get the first chapter now through her website.
Today, Val shares her "favorite mistake" about her first leadership role, as president of her sorority. Why does she reflect and say, "I didn't know what I was doing"? What did Val learn from this experience and how has it helped her in her career and in her work with others? We talk about this and more.
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Sunday Dec 06, 2020
Having Clients That Are a Bad Fit with Ash Taylor
Sunday Dec 06, 2020
Sunday Dec 06, 2020
From England, former tennis coach, entrepreneur, founder of The Business Clubhouse, and more
Show notes ://www.markgraban.com/mistake24
My guest for Episode #24 is Ash Taylor, our first guest from England. He is the Founder of The Business Clubhouse. He is also a speaker and a business coach supporting small business owners. Ash is also the author of the recently-released book titled Hitting the Wall: Winning the game of business by breaking through your own barriers. You can learn more at hittingthewallbook.co.uk.
Today, we talk about Ash's “favorite mistake” of working with clients that he was not well suited for, in the context of a business that he owned that provided services and coaches for tennis clubs. How has Ash worked to avoid making the same mistake in new ventures? How successful has he been at that? How does he coach other entrepreneurs around this issue?
We also talk about coaching business leaders and how we can make it safe, creating a culture of not being afraid to put your hand up and ask for help, as he aims to create a psychologically-safe environment of peers.
Ash and I also chat about planning for what to do WHEN we make a mistake (since we WILL make mistakes).
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About Mark Graban
Mark Graban is an author, speaker, and consultant, whose latest book, The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation, is available now.
He is also the author of the award-winning book Lean Hospitals: Improving Quality, Patient Safety, and Employee Engagement and others, including Measures of Success: React Less, Lead Better, Improve More.
He serves as a consultant through his company, Constancy, Inc, and is also a Senior Advisor for the technology company KaiNexus.
Mark hosts podcasts, including “Lean Blog Interviews” and “My Favorite Mistake.”
Education: B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University; M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, and M.B.A. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Leaders for Global Operations Program.