You can now play the Red Bead Game in your browser

The Mistakes That Make Us is a recipient of the Shingo Publication Award from the Shingo Institute!

Hi :

Dr. Deming's Red Bead Experiment is still the fastest way I know to show leaders that the system produces the results. Six willing workers, a paddle with 50 holes, a bin that's 20 percent red beads, and a manager who hands out awards, probation, and layoffs based on nothing but luck. You can now run the whole thing yourself at measuresofsuccessbook.com/redbead - four simulated days, 24 paddles, and a Process Behavior Chart generated from your own results at the end. It's free, it takes about ten minutes, and it works well as pre-work before a workshop or as something to send a skeptical executive.

Here's the part I did not expect. Across the games logged so far, the long-run average is 9.93 red beads per paddle, right where the math says it should land. But about 11 percent of completed games produced what looks like a signal on the chart - a point outside the limits, or eight paddles in a row on one side of the average. Nothing changed in those games. Nothing could change. If a purely random system can hand you a convincing story that often, it's worth asking how many of the stories in your monthly metrics review are the same thing.

Play and Learn Now

The simulator is a solid solo experience, but the lesson lands harder in a room. I facilitate the Red Bead Game live for leadership teams, offsites, and conferences, usually paired with a half-day or full-day session on Process Behavior Charts. We play the game, debrief what your red beads actually are, then build charts from your own data - patient falls, cycle time, escalations, whatever you're currently holding people accountable for. People leave able to tell a signal from noise and with a shorter list of meetings worth having. If you want to talk about bringing it to your team, just reply to this email or see markgraban.com/contact.

I'd Love to Help You — Virtually or On-Site

I'm open to working with you, either virtually or on-site.

If I can help your team or organization as:

... please let me know. You can reply to this email or schedule a call to discuss your needs and situation — and how I might be able to help.

I can also do a similar session for organizations in other industries!

New Languages for The Mistakes That Make Us

🌍 Available in Italian!

The Kindle eBook edition of Gli errori che ci rendono ciò che siamo is now available on Amazon. This Italian translation brings the book’s message to a wider audience—highlighting how embracing mistakes can drive learning, psychological safety, and continuous improvement.

🙏 A heartfelt thank you to Patrizia Mazza for editing and refining the AI-translated text. Her thoughtful work ensures the Italian edition speaks clearly and authentically to local readers.

Paperback also available!

🇪🇸 Expanded Spanish Options

The Spanish edition—Los errores que nos hacen ser quienes somos—is available in print, Kindle eBook, and audiobook formats via Amazon. Whether you're reading on paper, screen, or listening on the go, the message remains the same:

🎧 The audiobook is also available on Audible, narrated by an automated Spanish-speaking voice for accessibility and clarity.

Thank you for continuing to support and share this work. I hope these translations help leaders and teams around the world build cultures where people feel safe to speak up, experiment, and learn from mistakes.