My Favorite Mistake: Navigating Business and Career Pitfalls for Leadership Growth and Innovation

My guest for Episode #256 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Ann Swanson, the author of the internationally bestselling book SCIENCE OF YOGA, which has been translated into over 15 languages.  Episode page with video, transcript, and more Her new book, Meditation for the Real World, illuminates the fascinating science behind meditation with step-by-step practices. She worked alongside Harvard neuroscientist Dr. Sara Lazar and an illustrator for the New York Times to create this science-backed visual guide. It’s important to note that Ann wasn’t a naturally “chill person,” and meditation didn’t come easy to her.  Overcoming her own chronic pain and anxiety led her to India to study yoga and meditation, to China to explore tai chi, and to earn a Master of Science graduate degree in Yoga Therapy. Now, Ann blends cutting-edge research with ancient wisdom, resulting in realistic techniques you won’t just learn – you’ll love to live by! This episode sheds light on the journey of turning mistakes into unexpected triumphs — and how Ann's favorite mistake was thankfully a “near mistake.” We discuss how the resilience to push through tribulations is often the stepping stone to success in personal well-being and spiritual practice. We also touch upon the art of manifestation, breaking stereotypes and illustrating how envisioning one's life trajectory and being open to various possibilities can lead to astonishing opportunities. We delve into real-life case studies of individuals going from rejection to becoming acclaimed authors, demonstrating the importance of sharing one's knowledge and skills, maintaining a positive digital presence, and the role of persistence and self-belief. Questions and Topics: What’s your favorite mistake? Getting so many job rejections… over 100 Wouldn’t have known it was a mistake?? How did meditation help you during those tough times?? Tell us the story of this latest book,  “Meditation for the Real World,” Meditation mistakes? Is that possible? What if you feel like you are “bad” at meditating, or your mind wanders too much? Mind / body connection between yoga and meditation? How long do you need to meditate for it to work? Can one-minute meditations really make a difference? The science of meditation?? Why do most people fail at developing a consistent meditation practice? How can we apply the science to finally build a sustainable practice? Any mistakes in the writing the 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.

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  

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?

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

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? 

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?

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

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?

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”??

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?

My guest for Episode #247 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is April Shprintz, owner of her firm, Driven Outcomes. She’s is a leading sales expert and business accelerator, having generated over $1.2 billion in direct revenue in different roles.  Episode page with video, transcript, and more  She is also the creator of The Generosity Culture® and the host of the top-rated podcast, “Winning Mindset Mastery.” April's book, Magic Blue Rocks: The Secret to Doing Anything, is available as an audiobook, Kindle, and paperback. Named one of the Top 22 Entrepreneurs of 2023 by New York Weekly, April is a U.S. Air Force veteran and has been described as a force of nature.  Shprintz's journey is a masterclass in defying norms and embracing opportunities. Her transition from military to civilian life, her progression from broadcasting to sales, her courage to challenge hiring status quos—each of these phases in her career path are instructive and inspiring. In this episode, she shares her insights on leadership, her revolutionary ideas about workplace culture, and the lessons she's learned from her favorite mistakes. Questions and Topics: What if you hadn’t sent the email? Did you adjust after being hired? Your company — “Driven Outcomes” — why that name? Why do you share your series of FAIL Friday posts on LinkedIn? Sounded authoritative — good trait for a newscaster? A consultant? Executive? Is there training for that?  Building rapport by sharing mistakes? What have you learned? Transferrable Leadership lessons from your time in the Air Force?

My guest for Episode #246 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is JM Ryerson, co-founder and CEO of Let's Go Win. He's an author, leadership & performance coach, international speaker, and host of the Let’s Go Win podcast. Episode page with video, transcript, and more JM Ryerson founded and sold three businesses and is now helping leadership teams do the same. He’s the Best Selling Author of the books “Let's Go Win,” “Champion's Daily Playbook,” and his latest, “Upgrade.” JM has been building companies and leading sales teams for over 20 years. He is the co-founder and CEO of Let's Go Win whose mission is to increase leadership, enhance culture, and help teams achieve peak performance. In this episode, Ryerson recounts his initial ventures in the financial world, not as a numbers guru, but as a skilled salesman with the innate ability to motivate teams. He discusses his mindset switch from traditional roles to leading and expanding businesses, driven by a passion for nurturing growth and creating value for all involved. He delves into how he navigated setbacks, transforming them into life-changing growth opportunities, and the importance of maintaining a positive mindset amidst adversity. Highlighting his journey, Ryerson guides us through how he discovered his true calling of motivating teams, which ultimately brought unparalleled fulfillment and success. Questions and Topics: First to get to know you a little better — what were those three businesses? What’s your favorite mistake? Did you have a coach or did you coach yourself out of it? Mistake to be in financial businesses? To stay there? How to help others bounce back — remembering your WHY, connecting it back to your why Giannis Antetokounmpo: “It's not a failure. It's steps to success.” Coaching leaders — when to let the setback go… and to look forward  Talk about your leadership coaching – helping people process and work through mistakes What are the fastest changes facing the leaders you coach? 3 focus areas: Performance, leadership, and mindset — Which mindsets most often need upgrading? How to upgrade mindsets? To not get stuck in a mindset Carol Dweck – Mindset Mark was a guest on the “Let's Go Win” podcast

My guest for Episode #245 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Lauren Petrullo. She is an award-winning marketing expert, digital marketing and eCommerce consultant, and successful multi-founder. Lauren has overcome great adversity from a young age, as well as living by the F.A.I.L. method with her Mongoose Media “pack mates” as she calls them. Episode page with transcript, video, and more Lauren is the CEO and Founder of Award Winning Marketing Agency, Mongoose Media, Founder of boutique eCommerce store Asian Beauty Essentials, Chief Marketing Officer of eco-conscious baby swimwear Beau & Belle Littles, and co-founder of chatbot service Bot Blondes. As a former Innovation Producer at The Walt Disney Company, Lauren incorporates her background in innovation and design to infuse creativity and play into all of her marketing strategies. Today, we're talking about turning failures into stepping stones. In this episode, Lauren will dig into her “fail method,” the importance of integrating creativity into marketing strategies, and her unique approach to fostering a culture of transparency and learning at Mongoose Media. Further, she will delve into the value of diversity in honing effective marketing strategies and the proactive approach toward addressing and learning from mistakes. Also, discover how Lauren and her team are leveraging innovative remote collaboration tools and setting an example of how to emulate a robust and dynamic work culture. Questions and Topics: Why the name Mongoose Media? Why “pack mates”? Why is it important to tell your team about your mistake? Having a F.A.I.L. channel on Slack Celebrating failure? “First Attempt in Learning”?  Celebrating the Biggest failure of the week? Hiring selection vs. bringing them along in the culture? Which is more important? Using small mistakes to prevent big ones? “Why do I want to celebrate failures??” — good catches What is “The ONLY Advertising Hospital™?”? Why do you embrace the title of “destruction queen”? In your bio it says — “Dare to be vulgar, refuse to be boring.”??? Get a 20% discount code at AsianBeautyEssentials.com when you enter MISTAKES at checkout!

My guest for Episode #244 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Josh Cunningham, the CEO and Founder of rokrbox – an inside sales assistant company based in College Station, Texas. Episode page with transcript and more After starting rokrbox in 2013, Josh’s real estate company has worked over 3,000,000 internet leads for teams all across the country including Lars Hedenborg, Jeff Cohn, & Spring Bengtzen. Having hired and trained over 400 ISAs, Josh is a sought-after speaker for his invaluable knowledge on  He’s focused on developing a company culture that attracts the best millennial talent and drives success. Josh has learned how to scale and optimize business portfolios through building amazing teams with his take on company culture. His expertise was showcased through rokrbox's award winning culture, which inspired him to become the founder & CEO of Five Star Company Culture.  Host of a podcast by that name — thanks for having me as a guest and thanks for being my guest here today! Josh's mission is to help businesses maximize their potential and learn how to implement a winning culture that retains employees, increase team productivity, and allows business owners to regain their personal freedom. Stepping back, Josh explains the wakeup call they faced during an organic period of growth, as their student workforce started to shrink with the onset of school schedules. Instead of panicking, they pivoted, embracing the lesson as an opportunity to refine communication and clarify their mission. Transforming this hitch into a turning point, they instated a daily huddle, which not only served to align team focus, but also sparked a cultural shift by nurturing an environment of support, connectivity, and collective growth. Questions and Topics: When did you realize it was YOU that “failed”? What did they do to fix it?  Tell us more about the huddles – how long? Standard agenda? What was the effect in fall 2016? Appealing to millennials vs. Gen Z? Have you had to adjust? Where did you learn these mindsets and management styles from? Defining core values and types of people to work with? What do you do as a CEO that helps make it safe for others to do the same? Tell us about the “Five Star Company Culture” podcast My episode with our mutual connection, Kevin Harrington The Power of a Champion Mindset in Business Culture Embracing a Culture of Learning from Mistakes In the competitive landscape of business, a culture that fosters growth and development through learning from missteps is crucial. Rokrbox, an inside sales assistant company, has epitomized this philosophy by embedding the mindset of a champion into their core values. This doesn't imply a streak of unblemished victories; rather, it means recognizing that both wins and lessons emerge from each outcome. A true champion is defined not by a flawless record, but by resilience and the willingness to stand back up after falling down, transforming setbacks into stepping stones for growth. Overcoming Challenges: Reflecting and Implementing Change Rokrbox faced a notable challenge during a period of rapid growth. In the summer of 2015, as the company soared to new heights, a significant portion of their part-time workforce, primarily made up of students, dissipated with the start of the fall semester. This unexpected shift presented a stark realization that the meaning and importance of their work weren't being effectively communicated by leadership. It was a crucial moment that shifted the company's focus inward, igniting a reflection on the mechanisms essential for transparent communication and employee retention. The Magic of Daily Huddles: A Key to Cultural Success The transformative solution that Rokrbox discovered was the implementation of a daily huddle. A practice that now anchors their workday, these huddles serve as a time for team members to connect, recognize each other's achievements, set collective goals, and align on the mission for the day ahead. This ritual not only eradicated previous communication inefficiencies but also played a pivotal role in shaping the company's award-winning culture. It created an environment where each employee could see the bigger picture, comprehend how their contributions mattered, and envision a path for professional growth within the company. This daily routine of recognition, education, connection, and motivation ensures that all team members feel valued and part of a larger goal. Creating a Vision and Communicating It Effectively The lesson here extends far beyond the boundaries of a single company's experience. The leader's role is not only to create a vision but to effectively communicate it throughout the organization. Rokrbox exemplifies that having a clear and vivid vision isn't sufficient unless it is shared and understood by the entire team. Issues in business often stem from communication breakdowns, and a leader's capacity to articulate goals and expectations to their team members is paramount. Through the huddle process, Rokrbox was able to transform communication within the workplace, demonstrating that intentionality and structure in daily interactions could forge more profound employee engagement and drive stronger business outcomes. The Importance of Core Values in Recognition and Growth Highlighting the successes and efforts related to core values within the huddle reinforces their importance in the company culture. Rokrbox has shown that core values are not just platitudes; they are the standards by which team achievements are measured and celebrated. Acknowledging team members who live by these values each day keeps them active and exemplifies the behaviors that lead to success. Concluding Insights: The Role of Leadership in Navigating Mistakes Ultimately, the story of Rokrbox provides an insightful examination of the role of leadership when navigating through mistakes. Instead of assigning blame externally, it takes a leader to look inward and take responsibility for the team's direction. Identifying gaps in communication and rectifying them through strategic actions, like daily huddles, not only salvages a challenging situation but also propels the business forward with renewed strength and cohesiveness. This approach is a testament to the statement that victories in business are not only about winning but also about learning to rise after setbacks and emerge stronger. Cultivating Skill Development and Proactive Communication Strategies Rokrbox's adaptations to their business in response to generational shifts and student workforce dynamics underscore the importance of flexibility and foresight in personnel management. By examining resumes with greater scrutiny and asking more probing questions during interviews, they ensure that employment expectations align with both the company's needs and the students' academic schedules. This targeted approach not only aids in the selection of dedicated team members but also fortifies the retention of valuable talent. Furthermore, maintaining a proactive dialogue with employees about their outside commitments allows for preemptive scheduling adjustments. This adaptability preserves the employment relationship, preventing abrupt departures and promoting employee well-being. Implementing Regular One-on-Ones for Holistic Employee Engagement One significant practice adopted by Rokrbox is the holding of regular one-on-one meetings that follow a strategic cadence of evaluation and engagement. These meetings are structured to review work-related skills and pinpoint areas needing improvement. Importantly, they conclude with inquiries into the personal lives of employees, thus embodying a holistic approach to employee engagement. Recognizing that personal circumstances can heavily impact work performance, this approach fosters an environment of support and understanding within the company. Leveraging Masterminds to Foster Collective Growth Taking inspiration from traditional masterminds made popular by thought leaders like Napoleon Hill, Rokrbox has instituted monthly mastermind sessions to cultivate collaborative problem-solving and empower their employees. These sessions, promoted with incentives like free food, encourage voluntary participation from team members eager to discuss strategies for improvement. By facilitating this shared environment, Rokrbox reinforces its commitment to collective growth and allows for the integration of diverse perspectives into the company's operational framework. Adapting to Generational Differences without Stereotyping The evolution of Rokrbox workforce from millennials to Generation Z has entailed an understanding of each generation's idiosyncrasies while avoiding overgeneralizations that hinder relationship building. Recognizing that individuals bring unique values and behaviors to the table facilitates a more nuanced approach to team building. Josh Cunningham of Rokrbox also emphasizes the necessity of adapting management techniques, such as content and competition structuring, to match evolving attention spans and engagement styles without succumbing to the pitfalls of confirmation bias. Implementing Strong Values Across Generations Ultimately, Rokrbox's approach emphasizes the timeless nature of certain management principles, regardless of generational divides. Strong company values that resonate on a fundamental human level will consistently attract employees who align with the company's mission. The implementation of practices such as huddles and masterminds transcends age brackets, connecting employees to a shared vision of success and growth within the organization. Learning from External Experiences and Insights The trajectory of Rokrbox's culture is not merely an introspective journey; it has been informed by various external sources of insight. Josh Cunningham's exposure to .com era influences and his father's career provided the early inspiration for entrepreneurship and adapting to technological paradigms. As the bu

My guest for Episode #243 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Jenn Drummond. Episode page with video, transcript, and more She is a Mom of seven, a successful business owner, and a World Record holder.  As the first woman to climb the second highest summits on each of the seven continents, she now spends her time inspiring others to create a thriving business and lasting legacy of their own.  She shares her story and strategies for success through her upcoming book, Break Proof: 7 Strategies to Build Resilience and Achieve Your Life Goals, and her “Seek Your Summit” podcast, programs, and signature talks. Great successes are often built on the foundations of past mistakes and lessons learned from them. Jenn Drummond walks us through her transformative journey, a beautiful tapestry of perseverance and the wisdom gained from failed attempts. Drummond's story is one of relentless pursuit and thoughtful adaptation, as she has made waves as a mountaineering record-holder, a mother to seven, and a successful businesswoman. What's her favorite mistake? In the early steps of her business journey, Drummond confesses to falling into the typical trap of prioritizing aesthetics over function—a common mistake in the entrepreneurial world. She sheds light on how this misstep shaped her understanding of business essentials and offers a case study on the importance of prioritizing core business aspects over superficial elements. Expounding on the essence of flexibility in business, Drummond narrates how recognizing her initial plan's inefficiency and implementing drastic changes became a turning point for her financial services company. Her story is a testament to the power of adaptability in the face of challenges, and an inspiration to hopeful entrepreneurs. Questions and Topics: When you go independent — allowed to bring your clients? How did that business work out? A pattern of being willing to listen to advice or new ideas Later, putting life on hold until kids got into college… 2018, a horrific car crash  Setting a world record… climbing — tell us more about what inspired that… Is Antarctica the hardest to get to? Climbing mistakes? Bigger risk of physical mistakes or mental mistakes? Keep going or turn back? Balancing advice vs. your own gut?? How was the process compared to what you expected? Did you have a “book sherpa”?? Tell us about your podcast, “Seek Your Summit.” How do you elevate entrepreneurs to go beyond a life of success to a life of significance?  

My guest for Episode #242 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is John Rossman, a leadership and digital transformation expert. John is the author of three books on leadership and business innovation including the best seller The Amazon Way. He is an early Amazon executive who played a key role in launching the Amazon marketplace business in 2002.  His new book will be released on February 24, 2024: Big Bet Leadership: Your Playbook for Winning in the Hyper-Digital Era. You can pre-order it now. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Today, he is a leading keynote speaker on leadership for innovation, transformation and artificial intelligence and has given over 200 keynotes to worldwide audiences. John is an operator and builder whose love is diving into business problems and customer needs designing innovative solutions and business models, and creating durable enterprise value. He served as senior innovation advisor at T-Mobile and senior technology advisor to the Gates Foundation. John was a managing director at Alvarez and Marsal for twelve years leading several business turn-around situations, serving as interim CIO at a restructuring client, and leading the development of several large clients, including Walmart, Nordstrom, and Microsoft.  John is the founder of Rossman Partners, a leadership development, coaching and advisor solutions company. He is often joined by his Frenchie, Bossman. In this episode, we delve into the birth of Amazon's Marketplace, a venture that pushed limits and disrupted the e-commerce landscape. Rossman's role in pioneering this platform was marked by strategic risk-taking and innovation, lessons that emerging business leaders can take to heart. From edging out competition with unified checkouts to shaking the norm with new product categories, Rossman's story is a testament to the power of creativity and resilience. Understand his approach to the successful expansion of the Marketplace and discover how to nurture “small and tender” ideas into successful ventures. Questions and Topics: Amazon Marketplace business - the 3rd iteration of a 3rd party selling platform Were you confident this was NOT a mistake, this new approach? What was different? What was the testing process? Auctions was an eBay competitor? What was the approach for evaluating the experiment? How long to give it? Not working or not working yet? Is the mistake thinking that a company like Amazon always gets it right the first time and that others need to do the same? Amazon is influential... Mistakes people make in trying to copy them too directly?  Differences between Toyota Way & Amazon Way structure? What does “leaders are right - a lot” mean? Not “always”? 80% level What’s a hyper-digital era? Subscribe, Follow, Support, Rate, and Review! 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.

My guest for Episode #241 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Jazzy Collins, CSA, a Casting Director who holds the honor of being the first Black two-time Emmy® nominee in the Outstanding Reality Casting category.  Episode page with video, transcript, and more She has worked for hit reality shows including Lizzo's Watch Out For The Big Grrls (Amazon), The Circle (Netflix), The Traitors (Peacock), The Bachelor and The Bachelorette (ABC), Family or Fiancé (OWN) and Love Island (CBS).  She has been at the forefront of the movement calling for diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry, published in Deadline, E! News, ET Canada, Women’s Health, and beyond. Amid her success, she has been a tireless advocate for diversity and inclusion in the industry, a topic her work frequently brings to the fore. As time went on, however, Jazzy began questioning her career trajectory. Deciding to branch out, she transitioned into digital talent management, believing it akin to her casting work. Jazzy quickly recognized it wasn't her calling. After a challenging stint in talent management, she decided it was time to return to her first love: casting. In this episode, we discuss her career mistake, how she bounced back, and what she learned. We also discuss mistakes made by the producers of "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" when it comes to DEI and representation. Read about her open letter that called out the popular franchise. Questions and Topics: When did you realize that talent management wasn’t your space?? Fewer gatekeepers - more diversity shining through in digital platforms? How does one end up working in casting?  The Bachelor — Jazzy's open letter about Matt James as the first Black bachelor, after Rachel Lindsay as the first Black Bachelorette How casting can go wrong — Lee and Rachel’s season Problems caused by lack of diversity behind the scenes (or in a Board) Tell us about the thought process for deciding to send the open letter… posted it to Instagram and FB — reporters picked it up Did you ever worry or wonder if the letter was a mistake? Did you hesitate to send it?  How did you gauge the reaction to it? Before the letter, how did you first try speaking out internally? It sounds like you were punished for it… What reaction did you get? Had other people come forward… Ignoring the trolls?? Good move or cynical move to cast Matt James in the summer after the George Floyd murder? What are you working on next that’s new and fresh? How does somebody get cast on a reality show?  

Episode page with video, transcript, and more My guest for Episode #240 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is George A. Milton, America’s Failure Coach. George is the CEO of Failure Is Not The Problem, LLC, a consulting company that specializes in leadership development and training, life coaching, and motivational speaking. He is a United States Army Retired Colonel with over 30 years of experience as an internationally known Coach, and Speaker. George failed kindergarten, failed the first grade, barely graduated from high school dropped out/failed out of six universities. George had some academic failures early in life, yet, he went on to earn multiple degrees, and was inducted into the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame. His podcast is “Failure is Not the Problem,” and he’s the author of the books Failure Is Not The Problem: It's the Beginning Of Your Success and Failure Is Not the Problem: It's Your Leadership. In the military, failure is seen as the starting point for learning rather than a devastating setback. This mindset, which was ingrained in Milton during his three decades of military service, emphasizes resilience and adaptability forged through failure. By providing supportive mentorship rather than punitive consequences, he showcases how the military fosters a culture of learning from mistakes. We discuss that, his favorite mistake story, and more in today's episode. Questions and Topics: How did you learn – was it in the Army – about responding to failure differently? “It’s not the failure… it’s the response” — ARMY mentor Was that widespread thinking? YES Equation: Failure + Right Response = Success How is punishment counterproductive? Punitive approach didn’t work as well in units where that was the culture Failure is not the issue, the issue is how you respond? How does an organization make it “OK to fail”? Team of Teams — Gen. McChrystal In your experience… what was the Army’s views on learning from failure? Gen. Welton Chase episode How do we teach leaders how to “fail graciously”? How can failing be “fun”? Does that help us learn? The act of failing does not mean you are a failure

Episode page with video, transcript, and more My guests for Episode #239 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast are Felice B. Ekelman, an employment lawyer, and Julie P. Kantor, a business psychologist and executive coach — they are authors of the new book, THRIVE WITH A HYBRID WORKPLACE: Step-by-Step Guidance from the Experts. Felice is a principal of Jackson Lewis PC, where she practices employment law. She has been quoted in Bloomberg News, The Wall Street Journal, Lexology, and Law 360. She lives in New York City. Julie is a business psychologist, executive coach, advisor, and founder of JP Kantor Consulting. She is a regular contributor to Forbes on leadership and employee engagement. She also lives in New York City. In today's episode, you'll hear their “favorite mistake” stories related to leaving a corporate job to start a firm and not appreciating the need to focus on one's personal brand. We also discuss how, in recent times, our global work culture has seen a paradigm shift with the incipient emergence of the hybrid workplace model. While this model promises exciting opportunities, there's no denying that it also presents unique challenges. The crucial role of leadership in these unprecedented times remains a significant focus of our conversation. More than ever, leaders must now find the balance between preserving company culture and enabling flexibility. Simultaneously, understanding the legal concerns, promoting a strong personal brand, and creating an employee-oriented workspace are imperative in the smooth transitioning to a hybrid model. However, there's no one-size-fits-all solution to these complexities, causing leaders to gravitate towards innovative, adaptable strategies. Dive in to gain a better understanding of creating harmonious, productive hybrid workplaces. Questions and Topics: Does a personal brand have to align with the firm’s brand? How did the book come to be? And the collaboration? Brand is what OTHERS say about you? What differentiates you? Some mistakes require counseling and some get you sued? Policies on back to work — make an exception for one person — necessary or setting precedent for others??  How do you make exceptions? What are some “old biases” to look out for when designing or managing hybrid work? Where is hybrid work headed? — moving in a direction or a pendulum??