Enter to Win! The Mistakes That Make Us
Jan 05, 2026 4:56 pm
The Mistakes That Make Us is a recipient of the Shingo Publication Award from the Shingo Institute!
Hi :
Start 2026 with a fresh mindset around leadership, learning, and improvement. To kick off the new year, I’m giving away three signed paperback copies of my Shingo Award-winning book, The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation. This book explores how embracing mistakes—rather than hiding or punishing them—can lead to stronger teams, better results, and a more resilient culture of continuous improvement.
Whether you're leading a team, practicing Lean, or simply striving to grow in your career, this book offers practical insights and real-world stories to help shift the way you think about failure. The giveaway is free to enter and only takes a minute. Enter for your chance to win a signed copy:
Contest ends 1/16
Learn Lean Leadership from the Source — Kentucky, April 14–16, 2026
I attended this event last year as Mike Hoseus’s guest, and it was outstanding. If you want a truly inside look at Toyota’s culture and leadership system, this is the place to learn it.
FocusIn: High-Performance Culture and Lean Leadership
Lexington, KY — April 14–16, 2026
Event info: https://focusinleadership.com/events
Highlights include:
- Workshop sessions led by Mike Hoseus
- TSSC-led TPS tour at Toyota Kentucky
- Additional plant visits
- Distillery tour, tasting, and dinner
Use code GRABAN for $500 off.
If strengthening your Lean leadership system is on your 2026 roadmap, I highly recommend it.
Let's Work Together
As we begin the new year, I have room to take on a few new coaching and advisory clients.
If you're leading change and grappling with challenges like:
- A Lean journey that feels stalled or surface-level
- Teams that hold back instead of speaking up
- Metrics that create noise instead of clarity
- Improvements that fade instead of taking hold
- A culture that talks about learning—but rarely follows through
You’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Through virtual coaching, I work with leaders across industries to strengthen psychological safety, build a true culture of continuous improvement, and lead with greater clarity and confidence—even when the path forward isn’t obvious.
If you’re ready to make meaningful progress in 2026, let’s talk.
Also in this update:
- 🌍 New language editions: Italian Kindle eBook now available, plus Spanish print, eBook, and audiobook
- 🎥 Explore my Mistake-Proofing course via TKMG Academy
- 🎧 Listen to a free sample of the audiobook for The Mistakes That Make Us
Come Learn in Japan With Me!
Looking ahead to 2026, I’ve partnered with two highly experienced bilingual guides to design a Lean Healthcare Accelerator Tour—a curated, small-group experience explicitly built for executives and senior leaders who want to go beyond tools and learn from some of Japan’s top Lean hospitals and improvement leaders.
This isn’t just a tour. It’s an accelerator—designed to help you bring powerful, practical insights back to your organization.
🧭 Site visits to hospitals, manufacturers, and TPS experts
🧠 Facilitated learning and deep reflection (with me and other attendees)
🎌 All logistics, translation, and local travel included
👉 Read the full post and details here:
Join Me in Japan: A Lean Healthcare Accelerator Experience
To learn more about the planned itinerary, cost, and other details, please reply to this email. Early bird and group rate pricing options are available.
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:
- A speaker,
- A virtual coach,
- A workshop leader, or
- A consultant,
... 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
🌍 Now 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.
My Mistake-Proofing Course for TKMG Academy!
Please check out my Mistake-Proofing course that's available through Karen Martin and TKMG Academy.
This video is a short preview from the start of Lesson 1:
You can buy the course individually at TKMGAcademy.com for $149. Volume discounts are available for large teams or your entire workforce (for more information, email [email protected]).
The course is also part of the wonderful collection of courses in the all-access annual subscription.
Recent Blog Posts and Podcasts
LeanBlog Posts and Podcasts:
My Favorite Mistake Podcasts -- Celebrating Our 5th Birthday!
The Audiobook is Available!
The audiobook version of The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation is available through Amazon, Audible, and Apple Books.
But you can listen to a 5-minute sample now, the first part of Chapter 1:
Thank You!
Thanks for being part of my community.
Let me know if I can be of assistance in any way.
Mark Graban