Kendall Berg was so good at her job that she thought she didn't have to be nice — until a VP told her, “Nobody likes working with you.” That feedback became the catalyst for five promotions in six years, a coaching business, and a completely differen...
Patrick Engasser spent two years ranked near the bottom of a 615-person sales organization before one decision changed everything: hiring a coach. In this episode, he talks about why waiting so long was his biggest mistake, how he turned blindness in...
Dr. Jen Fry shares how an eight-month silence with her best friend became her favorite mistake — and why conflict avoidance, not conflict itself, is what really damages leadership cultures, teams, and relationships. Listen: Check out all episodes on...
MLB's new Automated Ball-Strike challenge system is designed to reduce bad calls. It may also create a new category of mistakes — ones that didn't exist before the fix. Listen: Check out all episodes on the My Favorite Mistake main page. Baseball has...
Mark Graban talks with Dr. Tyler B. Evans, infectious diseases physician and author of Pandemics, Poverty, and Politics, about how a career “mistake” redirected his path from global health abroad to leading public health efforts in the United States....
Small mistakes don’t usually cause big problems — unless the system lets them. This week’s Mistake of the Week comes from northwest China, where a simple water leak quietly turned an entire street into an ice rink overnight. The story isn’t about bla...
In Episode 339 of My Favorite Mistake, I talk with Genevieve Skory, executive coach and former Chief Field Development Officer, about a powerful leadership mistake: confusing performance with alignment. Listen: Check out all episodes on the My Favori...
Gold medals, joyful jumps, and ribbons that couldn’t keep up — this week’s Mistake of the Week looks at what happens when celebration meets an under-tested design. Listen: Check out all episodes on the My Favorite Mistake main page. After winning Oly...
In this episode of My Favorite Mistake, U.S. Marine Corps officer and leadership mentor Olaolu Ogunyemi reflects on a defining leadership moment early in his career—realizing that his approach, while well-intentioned, caused real harm. Listen: Check...
This Mistake of the Week episode looks at how diesel fuel ended up where it shouldn’t—and what that teaches us about system failures. Mark Graban reflects on why learning and prevention matter more than blame after a costly mistake. Listen: Check out...