My Favorite Mistake: Business Lessons from Failures and Success

Lessons from Failures: Navigating Mistakes with Amy Edmondson, Author of ”Right Kind of Wrong”

Episode page with video, transcript, and more
My guest for Episode #234 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Amy C. Edmondson, the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School, renowned for her research on psychological safety over twenty years. 
Named by Thinkers50 in 2021 (And again here in 2023) as the #1 Management Thinker in the world, Edmondson’s Ted Talk “How to Turn a Group of Strangers into a Team” has been viewed over three million times. 
She received her PhD, AM, and AB from Harvard University. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is the author of books including The Fearless Organization, Teaming, and her latest, Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well is available now.
Edmondson talks about the duality of mistakes – some that lead to massive successes and some that warrant a more mindful approach to growth and learning. Listen in as she recounts an endearing mistake from her personal life in the spectrum of Growth Mindset, discusses different types of failures and insights into how they can be reframed as opportunities for growth, exploration, and innovation.
Edmondson emphasizes the importance of Psychological Safety and the transformation from a ‘speak up' culture into a ‘listen up' culture within organizations.
Tune in today for an enlightening discussion on the fine line between reflecting and ruminating, along with Edmondson’s personal anecdotes from her writing journey.
Questions and Topics:
How do you see the connection between mistakes and failures? 
Sometimes failure is caused by outside factors?
As much as I try to be positive about mistakes and failure, I don’t love the phrase “fail early, fail often” — where do you think that phrase or concept misses the mark?
Psychological safety comes up A LOT in this podcast series when we talk about a culture of learning from mistakes… how do you define it?
Different types of failures — they’re not all created equally?
“Blameworthy” vs. “Praiseworthy” failures?
Why do organizations collectively blame people more than individuals blame others?
When leaders are super negative about mistakes… how is demanding perfection or say they must punish (or saying failure is NOT an option) counterproductive? 
Learning from failure is not as easy as it sounds? Reflecting without ruminating?
Mistakes in the book writing process?
Proofreading mistakes that slipped through?
Renowned Leadership Expert Amy E. Edmondson and Her Views on Psychological Safety and Failure
The Duality of Mistakes
Edmondson separates mistakes into three categories, drawing from her extensive research into the topic of failures and mistakes. These categories include examples from both her research and her personal life. Her favorite mistake to discuss lies within her research fields, and it features in her book “Right Kind of Wrong”.
This mistake recounts the story of a 26-year-old chef from Guangdong, China, named Lee Kum Sheung, who accidentally left his oysters to overcook. The result was a sticky, unexpectedly delicious sauce, which eventually resulted in the creation of the globally renowned oyster sauce. This accidental creation, stemming from a simple mistake, led his family to accumulate a fortune of over 17 billion.
This example serves to underline how seemingly negative mistakes can pave the way for groundbreaking innovations and successes. Edmondson argues this is contingent the individual’s curiosity and openness to turning these mishaps into new possibilities.
Growth Mindset in Mistake Processing
Edmondson is a firm advocate of Carol Dweck's work on the concept of a growth mindset which she integrates into her own personal parenting approach. She shares a personal mistake in applying the growth mindset that prompted her to be more mindful in her interactions and praise. Based on the recommendation in Dweck's work, one should focus on the process of learning and effort rather than praising the outcome. Edmondson experienced this first-hand when her son sought constructive feedback, revealing his understanding and demand for a growth mindset. This interaction highlighted unchecked mistakes and further enhanced Edmondson's practice of the growth mindset.
Mistake and Failure: Understanding Their Connections
Regardless of their causes, many failures can be traced back to some form of mistake. However, not all failures are incidental to mistakes. In many cases, failures are the unfortunate and unexpected results of well-thought-out hypotheses or conscientiously set actions, particularly in new or unfamiliar territories.
Shaping Our Attitudes towards Failure
The view and treatment of failure in organizations often differ greatly from personal reactions. While individually, people recognize failure as a potent teacher, organizations frequently fail to translate this realization into practice. This gap is arguably a remanence of industrial-era mindsets, where expectations for results were rigidly predefined assuming minimal deviations.
Today, this mindset is not compatible with the realities and demands of modern work environments. The culture within organizations regarding failure should be more accepting, even encouraging, as it often leads to crucial learning experiences and innovations.
Edmondson proposes three distinct classifications for different types of failure which are
basic failure,
complex failure, and
intelligent failure.
While basic and complex failures epitomize blunders that can be potentially avoided, intelligent failures represent the unavoidable consequences of ventures into uncharted territories.
To approach failure constructively, Edmondson suggests assessing causes individually and categorizing them across a spectrum of blameworthiness to praiseworthiness. This objective evaluation reframes failures as potential opportunities for growth and discovery rather than undisputable mistakes.
The Importance of Psychological Safety
Psychological safety has been a consistent topic in many discussions around failure. Seen as a belief that one's environment is safe for taking interpersonal risks such as admitting mistakes or sharing constructive feedback, psychological safety plays a vital role in creating a culture that is conducive to lesson-learning from mistakes. It is important to note that promoting a psychologically safe environment does not necessarily make dealing with these situations easier, but instead makes it more expected and acceptable.
Edmondson advocates for psychological safety in organizations, arguing that it is largely influenced by the leadership at various levels in the organization. She asserts that managers should promote open communication about failures and provide necessary reassurances to stimulate learning and improvements from these experiences.
The Emergence of a ‘Listen Up' Culture
Edmondson makes a compelling argument for transforming a ‘speak up' culture into a ‘listen up' culture. The concept reframes the responsibility carelessly placed on the employees and champions the idea of creating a learning culture instead. In Edmondson's view, such a culture encourages members of an organization to approach every interaction and experience as an opportunity to learn something new, not just from each other, but also from clients and the world at large.
By fostering a ‘listen up' culture, organizations inspire their staff to engage more proactively, ultimately nourishing an environment where speaking up is not an obligation but a hallmark of positive engagement.
Balancing Between Reflecting and Ruminating
Edmondson sheds light on the fine line between productive reflecting and destructive rumination, particularly after a misstep. Reflecting facilitates learning and growth, whereas rumination can deepen feelings of shame and loneliness. This might lead individuals into a vicious cycle of unproductive and recurring thoughts. She suggests adopting an objective cognitive process which starts with a simple inquiry, “What happened?”.
This question encourages the individual to assess the situation without assigning blame. It allows them to consider the events dispassionately and extract valuable lessons, thereby directing focus to future improvement rather than past missteps. Reflecting is hence seen as a necessary mechanism for learning, allowing not just understanding but also creating meaningful change after a failure.
The Art and Errors of Writing
As a prolific author, Edmondson provides insights into the inevitable mistakes involved in the book writing process. She acknowledges how minor errors can slip through even after careful editing and proofreading. These small errors allow for reminders that even skilled authors and editors can make mistakes due to several factors such as fatigue and other biases.
She emphasizes the importance of continuous iteration when writing, pointing out that improvement is always possible. Each day spent on a manuscript can uncover not just grammatical errors, but instances of unclear or convoluted sentences that can be rewritten or simplified. The potential to continually refine is what makes writing both a challenging and rewarding process.
The Unavoidable Nature of Mistakes
Undoubtedly, slip-ups, both small and large, are a commonplace inevitable aspect of our personal and professional lives. They are subject to a multitude of variables, irrespective of the meticulous preventative measures we employ. A mistake can creep in due to oversight, assumptions, fatigue, or simply because of our inherent fallibility as humans.
Nurturing an Iterative Culture
In line with her teachings on the importance of learning, Edmondson highlights the benefits of fostering an iterative culture. Within this model, organizations are encouraged to continuously learn and adapt their practices based on insights from mistakes and successes alike.
The Decisiveness of Title Selection
Book titles hold an integral role in attracting potential readers, and, as revealed by Edmondson, the process of naming a book can also be prone to errors. She discloses the careful consideration behind her book title, “Right Kind of Wrong” and the decision to exclude the article ‘the' for stylistic reasons. Despite noticing occasional erroneous inclusions, she garners a positive outlook from it, simply indicating that her work is being discussed and appreciated.
Embracing this spirit of learning and adaptation even for individuals in positions of authority can serve as a powerful example for others and help cultivate a culture that wider society can emulate. Essentially, mistakes aren't necessarily a pitfall; they transform into stepping stones when approached with a psychologically safe, learning, and iterative mindset.

Inside the BloomBox: Reimagining Global Education with Sofie Roux

Episode page with video, transcript, and more
My guest for Episode #236 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Sofie Roux, the visionary Gen Z Founder & CEO of BloomBox Design Labs, which is transforming education through innovation. 
Sofie's journey began long before her studies at Stanford University, where she studies civil engineering and architecture. It all started with "Sparkly and Smart," an art enterprise that remarkably raised $300,000 to support girls' education. Today, through her revolutionary BloomBoxes ingeniously crafted from repurposed shipping containers, she's reshaping education in Malawi by crafting vibrant STEAM learning environments. 
Unravel the revolution of the BloomBox, an educational space breaking barriers by merging innovative technology with architecture, designed to host an array of teaching resources for optimum learning. From its humble beginnings, built and shipped from North America, to transitioning operations to South Africa for economic and environmental sustainability, Bloombox has become a beacon of hope. This initiative has not only curtailed costs but has boosted local economies, creating new job opportunities, and reinforced its mission to bring quality education worldwide.
What's Sofie's favorite mistake related to this project? How did she react? And what did she learn in the process? 
Questions and Topics:
Tell us about the functionality of the BloomBox?
Starting with the why
What was your spark for this passion for helping girls in Africa?
Tell us more about the tech of the BloomBox and how it’s used?
Was the retractable solar panels part of v 1.0? Design spec or lesson learned?
With the Bloombox – there are apparent iterations and learning — is that continuous improvement or learning from mistakes, or both?
Tell us how you raised the money? “Sparkly and Smart” — website and Etsy
The website shows the overall design and installation process. Talk to me about how the end-to-end process design matters, not just the hardware design…
Tell us about Design Thinking and how that influences your work and the BloomBox?
At Stanford what are the opportunities to learn about Design Thinking and entrepreneurship, formal or informal?
Social benefit corporation vs. not-for-profit?
Bloombox Design Labs: Revolutionizing Education Through Innovative Solutions
Sofie Roux, a Gen Z visionary and CEO of BloomBox Design Labs, seeks to transform the educational landscape with innovation at the helm. Her journey, which commenced even before her tenure at Stanford University studying civil engineering and architecture, is evidently embellished with radical innovations and projects.
One such project entails the creation of Bloomboxes from repurposed shipping containers. These blocks have become instrumental in reshaping education in Malawi. Positioned within the learning environment, Bloomboxes are transforming the way students learn and interact with educational materials.
After months of sweat, effort, collaboration, $80,000 on technology and meticulous planning, Sofie and her team encountered a debilitating setback when shipping their first BloomBox. But every dark cloud has a silver lining. This setback unlocked a pivotal lesson for Sofie – accounting for important aspects that one might overlook during the planning process, and rallying the community for support during the implementation phase.
Building an Innovative Learning Environment with the BloomBox
At its core, the BloomBox strives to provide access to quality education for every child, especially girls, worldwide. Crafted from upcycled shipping containers and fitted with a retractable solar roof system, the Bloombox is more than just a classroom – it represents a merging of innovation and education.
Designed to host about twenty laptop computers connected to an off-grid server, the BloomBox is equipped with premier technology, lights, fans, projectors, mobile furniture, and a teacher's desk. It also boasts an extensive library of educational resources, transforming it into a full-fledged maker space.
Strategic Innovations and Iterations: Fostering Local Economies
Since its inception, the BloomBox project has seen considerable growth and progression. Initially, the boxes were built and shipped from North America. However, the need to cut costs shifted this operation to the South African development community, including Malawi. This strategic move not only curtailed expenditures, but also boosted local economies, employing locals whilst galvanizing the project.
The transition further aided in building a team in Africa that assists in the ongoing BloomBox installations. Sofie relies heavily on her team's expertise and knowledge – from essential observations to rigorous technicalities – to keep improving the BloomBox design and making it more effective, useful, and sustainable.
Sofie's vision proves that architecture is more than designing spaces; it's about creating environments that positively impact people's lives while fostering technology, innovation, and community empowerment. Her journey continues as she plans to scale the project, potentially connecting to Starlink for satellite internet access and reaching more schools, thus proving that the BloomBox design will never be truly done but constantly evolve with each implementation.
Embracing Social Enterprise: A Creative Approach to Address Global Educational Problems
Sofie Roux, through her BloomBox project, highlights that businesses can champion an aim beyond monetary gain. Her venture is not merely about designing a product to secure returns; instead, it's built around a social cause – to provide quality education access using creative methodologies.
She acknowledges her education at Stanford University, a transformative time spent partaking in the Technology Ventures program and working in maker spaces. These experiences undoubtedly embellished her innovative approach to identifying and solving societal issues.
Delineating the BloomBox: A Sustainable Social Benefit Corporation
As the founder and CEO of a blooming social benefit corporation, Sofie has had to invade some uncharted territories. Often, sustainable development projects need to conjure creative funding methods to continue on their journey, given that government funding might not always be possible.
Sofie's BloomBox, for example, is left with the goal of reaching 67 more schools, and this objective requires secure financing. One creative method Sofie proposes is the commercial sale of BloomBox revolutionary roof design, separating it from its educational purpose and marketing it to any sector requiring off-grid power supply.
The plan also involves running BloomBox as an enterprise, balancing between an arm that installs BloomBoxes for free at educational institutions and another that seeks commercial gain to sustain the project.
Creating Microeconomies Using the BloomBox Design
Sofie's vision doesn't stop at providing access to quality education. She has a novel idea of creating a microeconomy around each BloomBox.
Connecting with Starlink to access satellite internet is a significant part of this plan. The idea is simple: while providing free internet access to the students attending the school where the BloomBox is installed, the neighboring community members can get online access for a small monthly fee.
As the surrounding community continues to pay these modest fees over time, they would eventually cover the cost of the BloomBox, creating a sustainable, mutually beneficial system. The prospect of limitless possibilities that can arise from someone having a connection to the internet is exciting, and Sofie wants to facilitate those possibilities through the BloomBox initiative.
Nurturing Courage and Trust in a Social Enterprise
Social enterprises, such as BloomBox, often have to navigate a landscape filled with uncertainties. It takes courage to call out potential issues that might arise, requiring team members to speak up despite fears of offending or erring. It involves trusting others once you've done all within your capacity.
Sofie shares her experience of trusting others when lifting a BloomBox with a rusty chain did not go as planned. Despite the mishap, she chooses to focus on the positive takeaways and lessons learned from the incident, offering valuable insights for entrepreneurs at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey.
Encouraging Support for Entrepreneurs and Continued Growth
As Sofie's story unfolds, it becomes clear that supporting other entrepreneurs is vital in inspiring novel solutions and innovations. Entities like the Stanford Technology Ventures program, and other community supporters, by providing access to resources and encouraging innovative action, actively contribute to the success of ventures like BloomBox.
Sofie's journey, along with her fellow entrepreneurs, is still in progress, with new lessons learned, challenges negotiated, and opportunities created every day. The continuous growth and evolution of BloomBox and similar ventures promise an inspirational future for aspiring entrepreneurs. Discover more about her journey and BloomBox Design Labs here.

The Art of Overcoming Mistakes at Work: Lessons from Cliff Hazell

Episode page with video, transcript, and more
My guest for Episode #235 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Cliff Hazell, a leadership coach and startup advisor, formerly of Spotify.
Cliff has made a career out of breaking down the obstacles that stand in the way of great work. He is often challenging the status quo in his quest to develop the right culture and systems for creation of excellent Companies and Products.After a tour of addresses across South Africa, Cliff moved to Stockholm where he led a team of Coaches at Spotify for 4 years. Now he helps Scale-ups remove their Growth pains, enabling to Create Focus, Find Leverage, and Build Habits.
He was my guest on the Lean Whiskey podcast, episode #19, back in August, 2020.
In this episode, Cliff shares his favorite mistake story about a time when he got some “fairly brutal feedback” about his normally direct style of communication. Why did that knock his confidence back for a few months? What did he learn and how did he adjust?
Questions and Topics:
Decision to work on yourself vs. finding a better fit?
What did you learn about this? Moderate it? Finding more of your self confidence again?
2 insights that really helped him
I’ve interviewed two former Spotify people (Ward Vuillemot and Kevin Goldsmith). How would you characterize the culture of learning from mistakes there?
Reflections on your time at Spotify?
Balancing autonomy and alignment?
Avoiding a mistake at one extreme or another?
Habits – James Clear — Atomic Habits
Flight Levels Academy — founder and still a little involved
Navigating Mistakes in Professional Career: Learning from Cliff Hazell
Among the most accomplished careerists, few can match Cliff Hazell, renowned for his relentless pursuit of great work and his ability to overcome challenges frequently faced within professional environments. With a knack for challenging conventional wisdom, he is known to erect and nurture suitable cultural environments and systems necessary for excellent company and product development. In his quest to bring out the best in organizations, his journey has seen him rise from the beautiful landscapes of South Africa to bustling Stockholm.
While in Stockholm, Cliff led a team of coaches for Spotify for a noteworthy four-year period. His current pursuit includes aiding ‘scale-ups’, organizations seeking to expand their operations smoothly. His role often involves assisting these companies in addressing growth pains, enabling them to focus, identify leverage, and establish professional habits.
However, success was not always a given. Cliff, like every other person, has had to grapple with various mistakes in his professional journey. Among these, one stands out as his ‘favorite'. It offers a profound learning experience.
Cliff Hazell's Favorite Mistake
Cliff's favorite mistake occurred in the course of his usual work, which is often characterized by a very direct approach. Notably, this happened while working with a team at Spotify. This well-established team occasionally found itself entangled in circular debates which hampered progress and productivity. At one point, during an in-depth discussion about recruitment, Cliff lost his cool. His outburst, rather than causing the needed improvement, left an uncomfortable rift within the team. This mistake provided a valuable lesson about considering the potential impact of one's reactions in such contexts.
Insights from the Mistake
In the aftermath of this episode, Cliff felt his confidence knocked considerably. He receded from being actively involved in various projects. This experience made him realize that overconfidence can easily lead one to make rash decisions that may not yield the intended result. However, under-confidence can also be problematic as it can prevent one from taking important initiatives.
To become more effective at handling such situations, Cliff engaged the help of a coach. Over time, he learned to assess the situations accurately, prepare himself accordingly, and deliver an appropriate response. All these actions have since become key aspects of his professional approach.
Another learning point for Cliff was the need to understand and take into account what other people are looking for in a particular situation. This realization made him shift his focus towards meeting people where they are, asking pertinent questions that would guide them towards the right direction.
Reflecting on the Spotify Culture
Spotify is known to have a culture that fosters learning from mistakes. Despite facing challenges from time to time, Cliff affirms that Spotify generally excels at continuous learning. The company's culture embraces agile implementations at a frequency and cadence rarely seen in other organizations.
However, Cliff cautions about the common desire to visit or join companies for their perceived ‘perfection'. He insists that no company is perfect but rather, each has its unique set of challenges and opportunities. Instead of seeking perfection, he suggests people think about the types of problems they enjoy working on and find a company that provides such challenges.
From Overcoming Mistakes to Developing Professional Habits
Over the course of his impressive career, Cliff Hazell has found that overcoming mistakes and embracing growth opportunities often leads to the development and strengthening of professional habits. The experiences gained from these lessons, particularly the insights from his favorite mistake at Spotify, have informed Cliff's coaching approach and ultimately paved the way for his work in aiding ‘scale-ups'.
Considering Occupational Preferences and Company Culture Dynamics
One important lesson that Hazell shares involves scrutinizing one's preferences in selecting an appropriate work environment. He encourages an in-depth consideration of the challenges one enjoys working on and advises positioning oneself in an environment that offers similar scenarios. For instance, if one prefers a structured system with defined roles and responsibilities, a more corporate, scaled company may be appropriate. Alternatively, if an individual dislikes that structure, a startup setting may be more fitting. In any case, reflection and self-assessment play vital roles in identifying one's preferred working environment.
Moreover, the balance between autonomy and alignment in a company's culture is a key dynamic to consider. Drawing from his experiences at Spotify, Hazell elaborates on the unique challenges a rapidly scaling company faces. For instance, he observed that while excessive autonomy could lead to a lack of alignment, stifling rules could also inhibit innovation and growth. In essence, an appropriate balance is essential to foster a productive professional environment.
The Pursuit of Balancing Autonomy and Alignment
Finding the perfect balance between autonomy and alignment is not a straightforward task. It tends to involve much trial and error, as a move to the extreme of either end could be problematic. However, according to Hazell, the key lies in the ability of the company to adapt and correct its course.
One interesting point that Cliff raises relates to the challenges associated with an overabundance of autonomy. This can create a situation akin to herding cats, causing the company to spread its resources too thin and dissolving its cohesion. On the flip side, rigorous alignment can lead to a lack of space for innovation and creativity.
Many organizations toggle between these two extremes, leading to expensive restructuring and transformational shifts. The question of autonomy and alignment is best addressed by a careful evaluation of both aspects and a thorough discussion regarding the computations of moving too far in either direction.
Recognizing High Leverage Points
In the course of his work, Hazell pays keen attention to high leverage points. These are areas that, once addressed, can lead to significant changes within the organization. He argues that the process of finding these points can be simplified by thinking of alignment and autonomy as conflicting points on a spectrum. By focusing on the positive and negative outcomes of both, a company can have a healthier conversation regarding the balance and prevent any abrupt changes that could disrupt the organization's stability.
Promoting Habit Creation
In recent years, Hazell has cultivated a keen interest in the concept of habits. He stresses that behaviors within a system largely depend on the system itself and recommends introducing appropriate types of frictions to guide behaviors in a desired direction. This could involve removing barriers to innovation or introducing elements that keep the company on its desired path.
Focusing on catalyzing habits rather than procedures can accelerate the process of growth. Additionally, it allows the company to learn from its mistakes in a more systemic way that encourages constructive growth. This, in conjunction with the ability to recognize high leverage points, plays a pivotal role in steering a company towards its goal.
Navigating Various Organizational Stages
The organizational stage that a company is in profoundly affects the dynamics at play. As Hazell explains, the guiding principles used by a new startup with an intentional culture will differ greatly from those employed by a scale-up that has an established, though possibly unintentional, culture.
Understanding these distinctions helps in developing a tailored approach to addressing issues specific to each stage. For instance, a scale-up would focus more on meeting demand effectively, while a new startup would spend more time figuring out what works. As such, the stage an organization is at becomes a determining factor for the nature of the problems to be solved and the solutions to be implemented.
Conclusion
Cliff Hazell's insights underline the importance of learning from mistakes in professional environments and how these lessons shape professional habits. By considering occupational preferences, examining company culture dynamics, striving for a balance between autonomy and alignment, promoting the creation of habits, and understanding various organizational stages, companies can facilitate growth and continuously develop towards their goals.

The Beer Blogger turned Podcast Maestro: Jason Cercone’s Story, Mistakes, and Lessons

Episode page with video, transcript, and more
My guest for Episode #234 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Jason Cercone, the host of “Solo Podcasting Simplified.”
With nearly a decade of experience in the podcast world, Jason has built his brand around the consumptive power of storytelling and simplifying podcast initiatives. He helps results-driven business leaders and professionals create engaging, impactful solo podcasts – hosting, producing, or guesting on more than 1000 episodes.
Jason shares his favorite mistake story about engaging too much with a Twitter troll when he had launched a craft beer blog… and why it was a mistake to start a podcast just to compete with this troll.
In this episode, Jason also shares his unique journey – from an infatuation with radio broadcasting to his emergence as a podcast consultant, intent on helping business professionals capitalize on the power of solo podcasting. The episode uncovers Jason's first steps into the world of podcasting, characterized by critical learning experiences and a zeal that spiraled into a flourishing podcasting venture. Despite initial struggles and self-doubt, Jason's approach to convert every misstep into a solid stepping stone is remarkably inspiring.
Venturing into the second half of our podcast, we gain a deep understanding of the holistic elements of creating a successful podcast. With lessons learned from a journey that began at the barstool of a noisy tavern, Jason emphasizes building podcasts with a purpose, concentrating on the value it delivers to listeners rather than chasing high download numbers. His unparalleled journey will certainly inspire you to consider looking beyond the vanity metrics and developing a value-driven content delivery approach in the dynamic world of podcasting.
Listeners can join Jason on his website and set up a free 30-minute Discovery Session to learn more about how he can help them create and grow an engaging, impactful solo podcast. Please visit jasoncercone.com/workwithme.
Questions and Topics:
Learning the things you’d advise people NOT to do now?
How many people just wing it instead of researching or even getting help?
Or expect overnight success?
Why are download numbers a “skewed vanity metric?”
Podcasting mistakes? Format choice?
Why should new, aspiring podcasters start by launching a solo podcast?
Kristen Carder – I Have ADHD Podcast
Being flexible with your format? Having some guests?
New podcast coming soon? Re-branding a show
Harnessing the Power of Solo Podcasting: Decoding Jason Cercone's Journey
Podcast enthusiast Jason Cercone brings nearly a decade of experience in the burgeoning world of podcasting. Having built his personal brand around the impactful aspect of storytelling and the simplification of podcast marketing strategies, his mission as a podcast consultant is to help business leaders and other professionals harness the power of the solo podcast.
Solo podcasts offer a more personal, exclusive experience to listeners compared to guest or co-hosted formats. The value in these solo podcasts is the direct connection between the host and their audience, creating a space for deeper insights, discussions, and impact.
Cercone's journey into podcasting began during his years as a University of Pittsburgh student in Bradford, Pennsylvania. There, he stumbled upon a love for radio broadcasting, which later became the foundation of his podcasting career. In 2015, Cercone bravely pivoted from his communications journey into the beer industry, supporting the groundswell movement of small breweries through a craft beer advocacy blog.
As an initiative to better connect beer consumers to local events, Cercone launched a mobile app, only to be met with criticism from a troll on Twitter. This adversarial interaction fueled him to step further into the podcast world, vowing to create a beer podcast superior to that of his online detractor. His first podcast attempt was held in a noisy bar during trivia night, with minimal preparation, planning or editing in place. As he admits, this was a misstep and did not immediately fulfill his objective of creating a standout podcast, yet it reignited his passion for audio content creation.
Cercone's introduction to the podcast world was a steep learning curve, and he decided to take a break after a few episodes in order to develop his skills. With a focused goal to improve his podcasting skills, he spent a year and a half studying radio and television personalities, learning how to engage and connect with an audience effectively.
Building a Podcast with Purpose: Moving Beyond the Vanity Metrics
Upon his return to the podcasting world, Cercone was better prepared to create impactful content and help others navigate the realm of podcasting. A major factor he highlights when starting a podcast is understanding the why behind it. Rather than being lured by the allure of a high download count or focusing on swift monetization, the primary objective should be based on the value the podcast provides to its listeners.
For business owners and professionals, podcasting facilitates direct communication with their audience. The power of the podcast is not necessarily in the number of downloads but in its ability to attract potential and support existing clients. A successful podcast is one that caters to its specific audience, maintaining a consistent delivery of valuable content. This nurtures a loyal listenership and can lead to broader customer attraction and brand advocacy.
According to Cercone, there's no specific rule set or rigid format to podcasting. A podcast can feature guests if they bring value to the audience, even in a solo podcast format. He advises thinking outside the box when devising a podcast strategy, understanding that time constraints and download numbers should not be the ultimate measure of a podcast’s success. The ultimate goal, he shares, is to focus on delivering value to the listeners and ensuring they walk away satisfied from each episode.
The Mantra of Consistency: The Key Component of Successful Podcasting
Expounding on Jason Cercone's insights into successful podcasting, one of the most critical aspects he highlighted was the importance of consistency. A podcast, irrespective of its format, should maintain regularity in the release of its episodes; a critical expectation from its audience. Listeners tend to form a routine around their favorite shows, usually fitting in the episodes into their day-to-day activities. Consuming podcast content becomes a ritual, whether during the morning workout, the drive to work, or even on daily walks.
Cercone argues that consistency in episode release is everything, yet, it shouldn't stress out the podcaster. Determining a release frequency that aligns with available time and resources is crucial. Weekly, biweekly, or, in some cases, monthly releases can all work to create regularity for the audience. Going beyond a monthly release cycle could risk losing audience engagement, due to lack of enough content to keep them invested.
The podcaster, according to Cercone, carries a responsibility to the audience. If they need a break, whether to revamp the content, refresh their creativity, or deal with other priorities, they should communicate this to their listeners candidly. Informing the audience about the hiatus and when they should expect new episodes helps ensure listeners continue anticipating new content. In the meantime, podcasters can encourage their listeners to explore previous unlistened episodes in the catalog.
Speaking Directly to the Listener: Building Intimacy and Growth
The power of podcasting lies in its personal and intimate approach to communication. When a podcast is streamed, it often finds its way directly to the listener's ear, establishing an intimate connection between the content creator and the listener. This level of engagement is significant in a world marked by fleeting attention spans, with listeners dedicating a portion of their time exclusively to the content of the podcast.
Consequently, podcasters ought to understand that they communicate directly to one person- the listener. The primary focus should always be on enhancing the listener's experience. When the content resonates with individual listeners, the chances are that the podcast will begin to attract listeners with similar interests or challenges, thereby fostering growth.
In his journey, Cercone also experienced a phase of rebranding his podcast to better align with his mission and the audience he intended to serve. This shift illustrates the need for flexibility and evolution to ensure the podcast remains valuable and relevant to a changing audience demographic or evolving mission themes.
In the end, the primary determinants of a podcast's success go beyond download numbers or financial gains. The unique value it delivers to its audience, the intimate relationships it maintains with its listeners, and the consistency in delivering insightful content determine its ultimate success.

Victory Beyond the Soccer Field: The Entrepreneurial Journey of Phebe Trotman

Episode page with video and more
My guest for Episode #233 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Phebe Trotman, a successful and heart-centered entrepreneur based in Vancouver, Canada, who is passionate about helping others discover their joy. Her book, released in July, is Never Quit on a Bad Day: Inspiring Stories of Resilience – Thriving Entrepreneurs.
In both her athletic and professional careers, Phebe’s personal success has been a testament that anything is possible with hard work, dedication, and a team-centered approach. 
As an athlete, she has achieved many accolades as a soccer player, including being inducted into several sports halls of fame, winning championship titles, and being recognized as an exceptional athlete. Phebe has also excelled in her career as a network marketer, earning top awards and recognition within her company
In today's episode, Phebe shares her favorite mistake getting a red card, which meant being ejected from a semifinal soccer championship match and sitting out the final. What were the life lessons and business lessons from this incident, where she retaliated against an opponent for their rough play?
The retaliation gets punished??
Business lesson? We have a choice to how we respond??
Learning to not react — controlling our reactions
Reacting to negative feedback, even before the book was released?
Facing challenges? “ we should be more open about our struggles.” — why is that?
When is it a mistake to quit too soon?
Was it a tough decision to retire from professional soccer?
Did you watch Ted Lasso?? What resonated with you?
Helping others be resilient in the aftermath of mistakes?
Lessons from the writing and publishing of the book??
Questions and Topics:
---
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Mistakes in TV Journalism and ’The Medill F’: Annie Krall

Episode page with video, transcript, and more
My guest for Episode #232 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Annie Krall, an adjunct faculty member at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications. She is also a radio news anchor for WLS-Radio (890AM) in Chicago and comes home to the Windy City after being an on-air TV reporter for ABC in Green Bay, WI (WBAY-TV). 
After earning her bachelor's and master’s degrees from Northwestern, Annie covered breaking news in Green Bay, the Ryder Cup international golf tournament, as well as the Green Bay Packers. Host of her own weekly medical investigative series “Your Health Matters” Annie was accepted to medical school before pursuing journalism. Prior to WBAY-TV, Annie wrote and produced for ABC NEWS in New York City on the medical and business units for shows like Good Morning America, World News Tonight with David Muir, and 20/20.
Sharpening her golf skills as a competitive golfer starting at the age of six, Annie is now the entertainment golf correspondent for the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). She helps spotlight celebrity women who either play or have had their lives changed by the sport.
In today's episode, Annie shares her favorite mistake about a time when she didn't hit “send” when needing to send video back to the newsroom. What perspective did she gain from this mistake?
While unpacking her story, Annie shares her unique perspective on journalism education, especially regarding the famous ‘Medill F.' This single grading policy has sparked debates amongst students and educators alike, highlighting the ever-present tension between tradition and change in academia. Tune in to this fascinating episode for an in-depth look at one woman’s journey through the fast-paced world of journalism.
Questions and Topics:
Northwestern people don't want to admit mistakes?
Did it ever feel like a mistake not to pursue med school? Did you worry that it would be?
What are your thoughts about dealing with mistakes live on air? Or the risk of that?
Why do the Chicago traffic reports insist on using the names, not the freeway numbers?
The Medill F — the debate about whether that’s helpful or not??
So giving a Medill F *is* a choice not a requirement from the Dean
J.A. Adande – Episode 138
Does it really work?? Do Medill graduates make fewer mistakes than Mizzou and Syracuse grads?
---
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

An Accidentally Inappropriate Tattoo & Preventing Podcast Mistakes: Sara Lohse

Episode page with video, transcript, and more
My guest for Episode #231 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Sara Lohse, the founder and president of Favorite Daughter Media, a creative agency dedicated to helping mission-driven businesses and entrepreneurs use their outside voices.
Join us today as we venture into the captivating world of podcasting, storytelling, and personal growth through the lens of renowned businesswoman Sara Lohse. Sara, the president of Favorite Daughter Media, highlights the influential power of podcasting as an effective platform for entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of using one's “outside voice”. With an amusing tale about a questionable tattoo during a solo trip to Ireland, Sara beautifully illustrates how mistakes, no matter how embarrassing, can act as catalysts for transformative learning experiences and career advancements.
Sara also discusses the key role podcasts play in sharing compelling narratives and valuable knowledge, rather than using them as a sales pitch. As the industry expands, Sara provides helpful input on common mistakes to avoid, and the importance of an authentic approach when reaching out to potential hosts. Moreover, she explains how every mistake or wrong decision can bring about invaluable life lessons, shedding light on how this unique tattoo incident played a pivotal role in shaping her professional journey.
Questions and Topics:
Origin of your company name?
How did you get into podcasting?
How can hosting (or guesting) on podcasts help your business?
Common mistakes guests make?
Mistakes when pitching themselves (or others) to be a guest?
Working on a book — “Open This Book…”
Finding and extracting the most value from the story? Telling the story well?
Free eBook — Build Your Brand: 8 Components of a Brand that Sticks
Please follow, rate, and review via Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, or your favorite app — that helps others find this content, and you'll be sure to get future episodes as they are released weekly. You can also financially support the show through Spotify.
You can now sign up to get new episodes via email, to make sure you don't miss an episode.
This podcast is part of the Lean Communicators network.
Listen:Questions and Topics:Video:Quotes:Subscribe, Follow, Support, Rate, and Review!
---
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Shingo Institute Executive Director Ken Snyder: Navigating the Nuances of Lean Leadership and Sustainable Change

Episode page with video, transcript, and more⁠
My guest for Episode #230 of the ⁠My Favorite Mistake podcast⁠ is ⁠Ken Snyder⁠, Executive Director of the ⁠Shingo Institute⁠ and Senior Lecturer at Utah State University. 
Ken has been the executive director of the Shingo Institute since 2015. He developed an interest in Japanese business practices while living in Japan during the time he was a student. His interest led him to major in Japanese history from the University of Utah and then to pursue an MBA from Harvard Graduate School of Business for the purpose of working with a Japanese business expanding to the United States.
He joined the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business in 2008.
Before joining the Huntsman School, Ken was president of Marketing Communication Inc., an operating division of Taylor Corporation, where he directed a group of six companies while growing revenues from $25 million to over $80 million.
In this episode, Ken shares his favorite mistake story about his time at Taylor Corporation, when he thought he had made an improvement in their process for collecting data from 6,000 dealers — but everybody went back to the old way. Why did the change fail to stick? What did Ken learn from this? How does this influence his teaching today? We discuss that and more!
Questions and Topics:
General question: When is it a matter of backsliding or the change was never adopted?
Tell us about the Shingo Institute and its namesake Shigeo Shingo…
Lean Blog Interviews podcast with Ritsuo Shingo
Is it hard for companies to sustain performance after being awarded the Shingo Prize?
Not just tools, but Principles
The Shingo Model
Learning and improving — not just you but the Institute

From the White House to Executive Coaching: Asking the Hard Questions with Attorney Laura Terrell

Episode page with transcript, video, and more
My guest for Episode #229 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Laura Terrell, an executive coach with over 25 years of professional experience as a legal and business leader. In coaching, she focuses on the issues that are most important to professionals working to address issues in their careers and work lives.
Prior to launching her coaching practice, Laura was a Special Assistant to the President at the White House (George W. Bush admin), a senior level appointee at the US Department of Justice, an equity partner in two large global law firms, and in-house counsel at a major global consulting and business advisory firm.
Laura has led and managed teams of hundreds of people across multiple countries, and has been a top advisor for many Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 companies. Her clients come from a wide variety of industries, including law, education, financial services, pharmaceutical, oil & gas, non-profit, health care, and technology. Some of them are senior corporate executives like CEOs and general counsels; others are lawyers and consultants, entrepreneurs and small business owners, as well as professionals who may be returning to the workforce, making a pivot to a new career, or switching roles mid-career.
In this episode, Laura shares her favorite mistake story about not questioning the compensation that was offered to her when she was excited to take a White House role. How did she learn about the gap between her pay and the salaries received by others? How did Laura almost make, but manage to avoid repeating, the same mistake in her second government job? What can we learn from her about the importance of asking questions and advocating for ourselves?
Questions and Topics:
How did you learn about that pay gap?
People are generally afraid to ask questions (which can lead to mistakes)  
Afraid of being pushy, afraid of a bad answer?
How to get better at delivering bad information?
Making assumptions about how bad things would be?
Having to give bad news to a legal client? Key still for an attorney?
How and why do very successful executives still need coaching?
How would you describe ideal client?
---
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support

Former Monk Marc Lesser’s Enlightenment: A Journey from a Zen Monastery to Business Management

Episode Page with video, transcript, and more
My guest for Episode #228 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Marc Lesser.
He is the CEO of ZBA Associates, an executive development and leadership consulting company – and he’s a Zen teacher and coach. He founded and was CEO of three highly successful companies and has an MBA from New York University. Prior to his business and coaching career, he was a resident of the San Francisco Zen Center for ten years, and director of Tassajara (Tassa-hara), Zen Mountain Center, the first Zen monastery in the Western world.
Marc helped develop the world-renowned Search Inside Yourself program within Google – a mindfulness-based emotional intelligence training for leaders which teaches the art of integrating mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and business savvy for creating great corporate cultures and a better world.
Marc’s most recent book is Finding Clarity: How Compassionate Accountability Builds Vibrant Relationships. His podcast is called “Zen Bones: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times.”
Having spent a decade steeped in the teachings of Zen, Mark highlights his experiences, from living the life of a monk to taking over as the director for Tassahara Zen Mountain Center. But, the shift from Zen life to the corporate world was not seamless. Despite successfully launching a publishing company, Mark shares his ‘favorite mistake' of avoiding difficult conversations that led to his departure from the company he built from scratch. Is it a mistake to refer to him as a “former monk”?
Questions and Topics:
Using a better relationship to small mistakes as a way to prevent big catastrophes?
What causes the fear of conflict?? What exactly are we afraid of?
What advice would you give your younger self about that? Courage? Safety? 
Avoiding a repeat of that mistake at the next company? 
How do you choose which difficult conversations to address?
The risk or danger of deciding to avoid a difficult conversation or not?
R.D. Lang – “The Politics of Experience” book
Buddhism and the view on mistakes?
“Buddhists don’t sweat mistakes”??
---
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/favorite-mistake/support