My Favorite Mistake: Business Lessons from Failures and Success

Bonus: Sarah Lohse’s Update & Key to Effective Communication: Storytelling (Her New Book: "Open This Book")

Bonus Episode Update with Sarah Lohse: Unearthing the Power of Storytelling
Her episode of "My Favorite Mistake"
Today's episode of "My Favorite Mistake" features Sarah Lohse, founder of Favorite Daughter Media and author of "Open This Book: The Art of Storytelling for Aspiring Thought Leaders."
Sarah illuminates storytelling's potential as a powerful leadership and communication tool, extending it beyond the realm of novelists and filmmakers to thought leaders and influencers. With her knack for drawing relevant insights from personal experiences, she demonstrates how a well-told story can engage, inspire, and teach valuable lessons.
https://favoritedaughtermedia.com/open-this-book/ 
Check out all episodes on the My Favorite Mistake main page.

The Trials and Triumphs of Terry Bartley: An Author with ADHD

Episode page with video, transcript, and more
My guest for Episode #255 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Terry Bartley. He is a high school journalism, literature, and English teacher and writer of the new collection of short stories, Tyranny of the Fey. 
Terry is the host of the podcast “Most Writers are Fans,” about the intersection between writing and fandom. Terry has professionally written for the Coal Valley News and Screenrant. He has won awards for writing and broadcasting from the West Virginia Associated Press, the National Broadcasting Society, and MarCom. He has a B.A. in English from the University of Phoenix and an M.A. in English Education from Western Governor’s University.
With a candid discussion on his life's journey through countless experiences straddling education and literature, Terry charts an inspiring narrative about turning apparent career missteps into stepping stones of growth. We navigate through his career in teaching while pursuing his passion for writing amidst an uncertain freelance career.
Immerse yourself in an absorbing conversation as Terry discusses his life with ADHD, stressing its impact beyond professional barriers permeating quotidian existence. In our challenging exploration of the realm of ADHD, Bartley underscores the importance of acceptance, diagnosis, and therapy as his allies combating the condition. He promotes a holistic, individualized approach to managing ADHD, dispelling the clouds of misconception about mental health. Listen along for the fascinating exposition of how ADHD molded his unique creative expression, setting light on his inspiring journey.
Questions and Topics:
What's your favorite mistake?
Feeling out of sync – shaming?
When did you get diagnosed with ADHD?
What prompted or led to that diagnosis?
The impact of treatment?
Tell us about your book
Is it a mistake to publish the short stories before the novel? Only time will tell?
Learning from mistakes and steps from the first release??
Was it a struggle to finish a book then? Or are short stories easier?
Tell us more about the podcast — not just book authors…
What's done is done
 

Attorney Gina Mundy's Motherhood Career Mistake; Preventing Labor & Delivery Errors

My guest for Episode #254 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Gina Mundy, author of the book A Parent's Guide to a Safer Childbirth: Expecting the Best: Using the Power of Knowledge to Help You Deliver a Healthy Baby.
Episode page with video, transcript, and more
Gina is an attorney who specializes in childbirth cases. Throughout her career, Gina has traveled nationwide, engaging with healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, and midwives to explore all aspects of labor and delivery. Meeting with experts from various states, she has explored and analyzed the myriad of issues that can arise during labor and delivery, impacting both mother and baby. v
Gina lives in Clarkston, Michigan, with her family (husband, kids, and dogs)… and she enjoys visiting wineries. Me too (the wineries part)!
Join us as we embark on Gina Mundy's transformative journey from a legal expert in childbirth cases to a successful author. We explore how challenging circumstances, often derived from personal experiences, inspire noble feats like authorship, turning potential mistakes into powerful preventive guidance. Gina's book serves as an incredible testament to her efforts to help expecting parents bypass potential risks and navigate childbirth with ease.
Dive into a discussion touching upon critical topics such as recognizing the signs of distress or complications early, understanding the impact of medications like Pitocin in childbirth, and the implications of labor after water breaks. Our guests underline the importance of being forewarned and forearmed, thereby uplifting childbirth experiences with informed decisions.
And we'll hear about Gina's favorite mistake from her legal career, and decisions she made as a working mother -- how much does she regret those decisions today?
Questions and Topics:
Now 10 years later… was that a mistake??
What were the adjustments?
What led to writing the book — and first learning about problems and mistakes that occur during childbirth??
What's the difference between naturally occurring bad outcomes vs. mistakes? Is that always clear?
What are the most common problems that occur during childbirth?
Does time of day matter? 5 pm Friday??? July?
And how can people help prevent mistakes?
Who gets sued, the resident or the attending??
How often does info from the legal case help drive improvement and prevention?

Overcoming Burnout with Julian Reeve, Former Hamilton Music Director

My guest for Episode #253 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Julian Reeve, former Musical Director for the musical Hamilton and CEO of Perfect Equilibrium, Inc., a firm that provides consulting services related to employee burnout and retention.
Episode page with video, transcript, and more
Julian graduated with honors from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, England, before embarking on a highly successful career as a musician, educator, and entrepreneur.
He performed for millions across six continents around the world as a Music Director, winning The Los Angeles Drama Critic Circle Award for Best Music Direction on the Broadway musical Hamilton before leading it’s first presentations at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (DC) and at the Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferrè in Puerto Rico (with Lin Manuel Miranda).
Julian has built four thriving companies in the creative sector, including the London-based boutique talent agency Boland & Reeve Ltd (now Collective Agents) and Perfect Equilibrium Inc. in Los Angeles.
In this episode, Julian talks about his “favorite mistake,” a turning point that occurred early on in his career that challenged his understanding of leadership. This not only shaped his communication skills but also transformed his perspective on perfectionism. With fascinating real-life experiences, he explains the crucial role of self-awareness, the power of accepting and utilizing feedback, and the impact of approach and attitude on leadership and personal development.
Questions and Topics:
What's your favorite mistake?
Was that authority-based approach modeled to you by teachers?
Did you learn to ask for feedback?
Should we cut you some slack since you were young?? Learning from those mistakes — and getting other chances?
How do perfectionists tend to respond to feedback?
What led you to leave your work in the music industry??
The ways perfectionism is helpful?
Does it help to reframe standards of excellence and expectations?
Was there ever a mistake-free performance of Hamilton?
Why does Perfectionism lead to not just burnout and depression?
Self-compassion — Kristen Neff Episode 183
Tell us about your company – and how you help individuals and organizations
Julian's TEDx talk

Military Veteran and Retired Federal Air Marshal Russell Jack on the Mistaken MAGA Movement

Episode page with video, transcript, and more
My guest for Episode #252 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Russell K. Jack. He’s a retired US Senior Federal Air Marshal, working in that role from 2002 to 2022. Russell previously served five years as a Federal Police Officer. And previously served five years in the Colorado Army National Guard and was deployed in Saudi Arabia (Desert Storm).
He is also a first-time author — his book is titled, Is MAGA a Terrorist Movement?— available now. He hopes this book will promote critical thinking about protecting our democracy and just how precariously close we are to losing it forever. He writes this book out of a sense of duty to the American people. 
In today's episode, Russell shares his favorite mistake story from his time working as a security officer for a major health system. Why did a Black man think he was being racially profiled by Russell? And what did Russell learn about that interaction?
We also dive into important topics from his book — the lessons learned and the implications for 2024 and beyond.
Questions and Topics:
Did you get to share that lesson with others in law enforcement?
How often do you think racial profiling does occur?
What’s the definition of “terrorist”?
Death threats are an example of terrorism?
Fascist? What does that mean and what’s the implication if MAGA wins in 2024?
It’s a mistake that we don’t have a clear definition of “Insurrectionist”?
Who is the audience for the book? The already convinced, or the convincible?? Your hope for the book?
You write you’ve never convinced anybody to stop being MAGA. Do you expect this book to help?
Do you run across people who now think it was a mistake to previously support or vote for Trump?
Does MAGA think they made mistakes in early 2021 that they wouldn’t make again in early 2029??
If Trump were to die tomorrow, what happens to MAGA movement? 

Turning Stumbles into a Dance: Elaine Hart on Building Resilience at Power Fitness

My guest for Episode #251 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Elaine Hart, the Chief Banana Officer at Power Fitness Events. She’s a resilient fitness enthusiast and former luxury event manager at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
Episode page with video, transcript, and more
Overcoming challenges including anorexia, she discovered strength in fitness and community. Elaine transitioned her career to empower others through spinning, founding Power Fitness. 
Her resilience was further highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, adapting her business to offer virtual classes. With a mantra of “Keep Pedaling,” Elaine's story inspires physical and mental strength, shared passionately from her spinning bike.
In today's episode, Elaine talks about mistakes including:
Quitting her job to start a business in 2020
Feeling shame about her anorexia
Through innovation and determination, Elaine transformed the unforeseen challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic into an opportunity for growth and deepened engagement. Her unique initiative, “Bring Your Own Banana” (BYOB), nurtures an environment of playfulness, motivation, and connectivity within her community. As the ‘Chief Banana Officer,' her story encapsulates the spirit of Power Fitness Events—a testament to the power of resilience, innovation, and community connection.
Questions and Topics:
Why are you the “Chief Banana Officer?”
Would it have been a mistake to stay in the career?
What drove you to make that big decision?
It says Self-Care on the banana – tell us about that
A mistake to think one-size-fits-all when it comes to advice?
Why do you say we should make the stumble part of the dance?
What does it mean to distance yourself from the action, the mistake?
Shame around mistakes — had a lot of shame around her anorexia?
Mental health first aid?? 
The importance of being playful? How did you learn this or discover it in you?

250 Episodes! Celebrating and Reflecting on a Podcasting Journey

In this episode, host Mark Graban reflects on 250 episodes, sharing a few clips, admitting a few mistakes, and telling a few stories.
Kevin Harrington episode
Mark Teich episode
Rep. Will Hurd episode
Rep. Adam Smith episode
Sofie Roux episode
Tom Peters episode
Video of Karyn Ross and her suitcase

How Speak-Up Culture Builds on Psychological Safety: Stephen Shedletzky

My guest for Episode #250 (!!!) of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Stephen Shedletzky or “Shed” to his friends. He is a sought-after speaker, coach, and advisor, — As a thought leader on psychological safety in the workplace, Shed has led hundreds of keynote presentations, workshops, and leadership development programs around the world.
Episode page
Author of the book Speak-Up Culture: When Leaders Truly Listen, People Step Up.
After years on a corporate track, Shed was introduced to and inspired by the work of best-selling author Simon Sinek and, became the fourth person to join his team. For more than a decade, Shed contributed at Simon Sinek, where he led a global team of speakers and facilitators.
Shed graduated from the Richard Ivey School of Business with a focus on leadership, communication, and strategy. He received his coaching certification from The Co-Active Training Institute. He lives in Toronto with his wife and two young children.
Shed's route from his first job post-business school to establishing himself as a speaker, coach, and thought leader reflects the transformative power of self-awareness and the pursuit of work that aligns with personal passions. He transitioned from a potentially constrained corporate environment to one where he could significantly impact organizational cultures on a global scale.
While navigating shifts in career paths can be intimidating, especially during disruptions like layoffs, such moments can provide much-needed clarity and drive individuals to seek opportunities that resonate more with their personal values and dreams. Shed's experiences prove that embracing change and following your passion can lead to a fulfilling career, inspiring others to contemplate and pursue their professional aspirations in a more authentic, dedicated, and inspired manner.
Adopting psychological safety, authentic leadership, and the courage to speak up is critical to nurturing a positive and productive workplace culture. Steven Shedletzky's life and insights stand as an inspiration for all personnel, helping them create environments that prioritize the well-being of their teams and promote purposeful and fulfilling work.
Questions and Topics:
Should we quit or stick it out??
What is a speak-up culture? Why a speak-up culture? 
Lessons about HOW to speak up most effectively?
Maybe we should call it ‘listen up culture’?
How often are leaders in denial about this culture problem? Or how often do they put the onus on employees that they SHOULD speak up?
Elon Musk seems not to engender a speak-up culture…
Boeing has declared now they want employees to speak up
What must leaders do to cultivate a “speak up” culture?

Breaking Barriers in the NHL and Building Fitness Communities: Sandy Weston

My guest for Episode #249 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Sandy Joy Weston M.Ed. She is a keynote speaker, international podcaster, three times published author, and entrepreneur, who has owned and operated health and wellness companies over the past 30 years. 
Episode page
Early in her career, she became the first female trainer for the Philadelphia Flyers and spent many years as a media personality and as Philadelphia NBC10's Fitness Expert. She created the nationally recognized Philly Street Line Dance to help combat Philly’s “fattest city” label. 
For the past five years, Sandy has been focusing on SJW Productions, an international company whose main mission is to highlight all the positive in the world. She does this through her international podcasts, her books, Train Your Head & Your Body Will Follow, My 30-Day Reset Journal and her programs and workshops. Sandy’s mission is to spread pure joy and inspire others to see their true power.
She’s also the host of her podcast, “Let’s Keep it Real,” and I'll be a guest there soon.
Sandy took her passion for fitness to a whole new level in 1993 by launching her club, Weston Fitness. Her fitness club was not just another establishment; it was designed to be cutting-edge and cater to fitness trends with unique classes like spin. Weston's focus was on the transformative power of fitness, where she aimed to offer not just exercise but entertainment and community building within her club’s walls.
In her approach to wellness, Sandy Weston didn’t shy away from ground-breaking methods to create a sense of community. Her innovation in this area can be seen in the introduction of the controversial but beloved “porno spin.” It was these kinds of decisions that marked Weston Fitness as more than a gym. Weston’s Club was, and still is, a space where camaraderie and joy are intertwined with health and physical fitness – a testament to Weston’s vision and innovation in the wellness industry.
And we'll hear Sandy's “favorite mistake” stories!
Questions and Topics:
What was it like being the FIRST female trainer for the Flyers?
Was there any controversy about starting with the Flyers?
What was it like working on TV — fear of mistakes in that work? How did you get into that?
You rarely say “mistake” or “failure” — why? 
We’re all busy and have goals… making time can be tough. 
Move for a minute – baby steps
Mark's podcasts with Robert Maurer
“What keeps you up at night?”
Language matters —“Dumb mistake”??

Building a Prototype the Customer Didn't Believe: Bruno Pešec

My guest for Episode #248 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Bruno Pešec, A Croatian living in Norway.
Episode page with video, transcript, and more
Bruno Pešec helps business leaders innovate profitably. He is the rare innovator who can claim he's worked on a regulation-defying freight train and an award-winning board game. In addition to his corporate experience with brands like DNV, DNB, and Kongsberg Group, Bruno runs a community of entrepreneurs of several thousand members. He is currently undertaking a doctorate in organizational change, with a specific focus on the issues with innovation in large enterprises. Bruno has co-authored the Augmented Strategy book, a practical guide to decision-making based on data and human intuition.
His academic credentials include a master's degree with distinction in industrial engineering and management, specialization in production and quality engineering, and an advanced management diploma specializing in strategy and innovation. 
He has also been trained by Toyota in corporate value creation and innovation. Bruno is currently undertaking a doctorate in organizational change, with a peculiar focus on the issues with innovation in large enterprises.
In today's episode, Bruno shares his favorite mistake story about a revolutionary freight train design that seemed to deliver against impossible customer requirements — but it seemed too good to be true! We also discuss how Bruno moved past his initial skepticism about the “Lean Startup” methodology to be a big advocate for the approach. We also discuss his educational board game, “Playing Lean” and mistakes he learned from during that journey.
Questions and Topics:
Was it a mistake to ignore Lean Startup initially 2008 before starting to pay attention in 2012?
Like me, you’re an Industrial Engineer – with Toyota Production System origins… what did you experience and learn through Toyota?
“Playing Lean” and “Playing Lean 2”
Were you able to talk with any non-buyers to get feedback??
Not just experimenting on the product, but also on the business model?