New Year’s resolutions fail far more often than they succeed. In this Mistake of the Week, Mark Graban explores why treating change as a test of willpower—rather than a system design challenge—leads to predictable frustration, both personally and in...
Nick Saban once called a fourth-down decision the “dumbest” mistake of his coaching career—even though his team went on to win the game. In this short solo episode of My Favorite Mistake, Mark Graban explores why mistakes don’t always undermine leade...
“Jingle Bells” wasn’t meant to be a Christmas song—and that misunderstanding may be its greatest mistake. Listen: Check out all episodes on the My Favorite Mistake main page. Jingle Bells is one of the most recognizable Christmas songs ever written…...
A conversation with Dr. Josh McConkey about mistakes, moral courage, and accountability in high-stakes leadership. Listen: Check out all episodes on the My Favorite Mistake main page. My guest for Episode #332 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Dr...
A single lab error led to an unnecessary surgery—and revealed how easily systems can fail patients when learning stops. Listen: Check out all episodes on the My Favorite Mistake main page. This week’s “Mistake of the Week” comes from Basel University...
Andy Regal’s story shows how workplace bullying persists not because of bad actors alone, but because leaders and systems stay silent when intervention matters most. Listen: Check out all episodes on the My Favorite Mistake main page. My guest for Ep...
A landing gear error nearly ended in disaster—and exposed how small breakdowns can cascade when systems don’t catch mistakes early. Listen: Check out all episodes on the My Favorite Mistake main page. In this Mistake of the Week, Mark Graban breaks d...
Debra Clary’s favorite mistake started with missing a train stop—and led to a lifelong insight about why curiosity, not certainty, is the real engine of great leadership. Listen: Check out all episodes on the My Favorite Mistake main page. My guest f...
A conversation with empathy researcher and TEDx speaker Melissa Robinson-Winemiller about toxic systems, self-empathy, and how leaders can respond to mistakes with accountability and humanity. Listen: Check out all episodes on the My Favorite Mistake...
A small pickleball mistake reveals how assumptions, habits, and split-second decisions can quietly undermine performance—and learning. Listen: Check out all episodes on the My Favorite Mistake main page. In this edition of Mistake of the Week, Mark G...