My Favorite Mistake: Business Lessons from Failures and Success

In this special bonus episode of My Favorite Mistake, Mark Graban talks again with Andrea Jones, Principal at AJC [https://ajccompany.com] and CEO of The Executagility Company [https://executagility.com]. Andrea was previously featured in Episode 105 [http://markgraban.com/mistake105], and she returns to discuss the release of her new book: The Executagility Field Guide: How Busy Teams Can Execute Growth Plans. [https://amzn.to/3SezNyl] Andrea shares a new “favorite mistake” involving lost data from a Typeform survey—an honest example of learning the hard way how software design can trip up even experienced business leaders. The good news? She caught the mistake, learned from it, and adjusted her systems to avoid similar issues in the future. We also dive into the four pillars of the Executagility model: 1. Alignment – Are we clear on the goals and priorities? 2. Available Time – Do our people realistically have capacity to execute? 3. Competence – Do we have the right skills in-house or need help? 4. Structure – Do we have a repeatable process to keep projects on track? Andrea explains how she applied her own framework to the writing and launch of her book—and how it’s helping mid-sized businesses get growth initiatives done without burning out their teams. "You can’t execute growth if your team is already stretched thin trying to handle today’s work." "Just because someone’s capable in their current role doesn’t mean they can drive transformation alone. That’s why the glue person—the project leader—is essential."

My guest for Episode #309 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast [http://myfavoritemistakepodcast.com/] is La Tonya Roberts, the founder and CEO of Harmony Consulting Group [https://www.harmonyconsultinggroup.org/]. La Tonya is a fractional COO, HR consultant, and executive coach who helps women entrepreneurs scale their service-based businesses from six to seven figures through systems, strategic planning, and operational excellence. Before launching her firm, she built her career at top consulting organizations like Deloitte and Booz Allen, where she developed deep expertise in organizational change and operational leadership. EPISODE PAGE WITH VIDEO, TRANSCRIPT [http://markgraban.com/MISTAKE309], AND MORE In this episode, La Tonya shares her favorite mistake—staying too long in roles she had outgrown, taking on too much responsibility, and ultimately burning out. After experiencing both physical and emotional fatigue, including a dramatic moment that sent her to the hospital, she realized that her tendency to overfunction in high-demand environments was unsustainable. Those hard lessons eventually led her to rediscover joy in her work by launching her own business focused on operational harmony and intentional growth. La Tonya explains how she now helps founders—especially women—build scalable, process-driven businesses without sacrificing their well-being. She also shares how she uses tools like ChatGPT to automate repetitive tasks and increase efficiency, both in her business and her clients'. We also talk about the importance of aligning systems, people, and strategy, and how La Tonya’s clients benefit from her experience in both large enterprises and nimble startups. Listeners will hear practical advice on avoiding burnout, building systems that run without you, and why "work-life harmony" may be a better goal than elusive "balance."

My guest for Episode #308 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast [http://myfavoritemistakepodcast.com/] is C.J. Stewart [https://iamcjstewart.com/], co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer at the LEAD Center for Youth [https://www.leadyouth.org], an Atlanta-based nonprofit focused on empowering Black youth through sports-based development. Before dedicating his life to mentorship and advocacy, C.J. was drafted twice by the Chicago Cubs and built a successful career as a professional hitting instructor and co-owner of Diamond Directors [https://diamonddirectors.com]. He’s also the author of Living to Lead: A Story of Passion, Purpose, and Grit [https://amzn.to/3GAgzAw]. Episode page with video and more [http://markgraban.com/mistake308] http://markgraban.com/mistake308 C.J.’s “favorite mistake”? Becoming an avid runner. What started as a tribute to the life of Ahmaud Arbery [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Ahmaud_Arbery] turned into a transformational habit—one that reshaped his health, mindset, and mission. In this powerful conversation, C.J. unpacks the difference between mistakes and stupidity, explores the struggles that shape significance, and reflects on the emotional toll and systemic barriers faced by Black athletes. He also shares how running has helped him connect across generations, communities, and cultures. Throughout the episode, C.J. offers a candid and thought-provoking look at racism, leadership, and the need for real advocacy—not just good coaching. He shares insights from his own life as a player, coach, and nonprofit leader, challenging listeners to consider how we name and respond to problems, and why protecting others is at the heart of leadership. This is a conversation about growth, conviction, and using our platforms to make a difference. Questions and Topics: * What’s your favorite mistake, and what did you learn from it? * In what way was becoming a runner a mistake? * How do you define the difference between a mistake and stupidity? * How has running changed you—physically, emotionally, and socially? * Did pursuing a career in professional baseball feel like a mistake in hindsight? * What does LEAD stand for, and what is its mission? * Why is advocacy more important than just good coaching? * Why do you think there are so few Black players in certain positions, like catcher or pitcher? * What needs to change in baseball to address racism and systemic barriers? * What do you mean when you say you became “openly Black” in 2015? * How does racism take an emotional toll on Black athletes, even those who succeed? * Are MLB diversity programs effective, or are they falling short? * What else needs to happen to create real change and equity in baseball?

In this bonus episode of My Favorite Mistake, host Mark Graban welcomes back Dr. Thom Mayer [https://www.thommayermd.com/], the longtime Medical Director for the NFL Players Association. Thom previously joined us in catch up on his original episode [http://markgraban.com/mistake274]here [http://markgraban.com/mistake274] 🌐 Learn more about Dr. Mayer [https://www.thommayermd.com/] and his work with the NFLPA 💡 Subscribe at MarkGraban.com/mistake [https://www.markgraban.com/mistake]

My guest for Episode #307 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast [http://myfavoritemistakepodcast.com/] is Terry Whalin [https://terrywhalin.com/], an accomplished editor and author of more than 60 books, several of which have sold over 100,000 copies. Terry is the owner of Whalin and Associates, a communications firm, and he serves as an acquisitions editor for Morgan James Publishing. Drawing from decades of experience in both writing and publishing, Terry shares a favorite mistake that changed the course of his career—offering valuable insights for first-time authors and seasoned professionals alike. Episode page with video and more [http://markgraban.com/mistake307] http://markgraban.com/mistake307 His most recent book is 10 Publishing Myths: Insights Every Author Needs to Succeed [https://amzn.to/4m6NKMz]. Terry’s favorite mistake took place in 2007, when a high-profile publishing event jolted him into realizing just how little he was doing to promote his own books. Despite having secured multiple six-figure advances and a long list of published titles, Terry was receiving negative royalty statements—his books weren’t earning out. That wake-up call led him to take what he calls 100% responsibility for his own success, adopting a daily commitment to book promotion, content creation, and building an online presence. From that turning point, he launched a blog (now with over 1,700 posts), grew a substantial social media following, and became a consistent voice in the author education space. In the conversation, Terry and Mark explore the myths and realities of book publishing—especially the misconception that a publisher will handle marketing. Terry outlines how today’s authors must become active promoters, the importance of building an email list you control, and why giving away ebooks can actually drive print book sales. He also shares hard-earned lessons about evaluating publishers, avoiding scams, and understanding how traditional and independent publishing models differ. Whether you’re writing your first book or navigating your next launch, Terry’s insights are a masterclass in professional ownership and long-term thinking. Questions and Topics: *   What’s your favorite mistake? * Was it just a bad assumption to think publishers would promote your book, or do they sometimes mislead authors? * Is the idea that a publisher will handle marketing one of the common myths in publishing? * What specific actions did you start taking after realizing you needed to take full responsibility for your book’s success? * Are you actively guesting on podcasts and using social media today to promote your work? * Do social media efforts actually help sell books—or is it more about visibility and exposure? * What’s your take on claims like “#1 Amazon bestseller”—do those really help authors sell books? * Can you explain how the Morgan James model differs from traditional publishing? * Why do you ask authors to commit to buying 2,000 copies of their own book? * What role does giving away ebooks play in driving print sales? * What should authors consider when deciding between traditional, hybrid, or independent publishing? * How can aspiring authors avoid getting scammed by predatory publishing companies? * What’s the role of an acquisitions editor, and how do you evaluate submissions? * Do pre-orders really matter for bookstore placement? * Why should authors consider writing for magazines or newspapers to build their platform? * Do you think authors give up too early on marketing their books? * Is building an email list still essential for authors, even in the age of social media? * Should authors be cautious about relying too much on platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn?