In this special bonus episode of My Favorite Mistake, host Mark Graban welcomes back Josh Cunningham, founder and CEO of Rokrbox and guest from Episode 244. Josh returns to share insights from his brand-new book, Culture Is the Key: How to Unlock Massive Profits and Freedom.

We dive into:

• How Josh built a culture-first company that’s thriving—even in a tough real estate market

• Why cutting costs doesn’t have to mean cutting people or quality

• The inspiration and process behind writing his book

• What it means to create a Five-Star Company Culture

Josh also reflects on what he’s learned since his last visit, including the power of simplification, scaling with intention, and how purpose has driven Rockerbox's explosive growth.

“Culture isn’t just a vibe—it’s the engine behind every result.” “We asked: What’s the least amount of work a person has to do to move the needle—and how can we reward them more for it?”

📕 Grab the book: Culture Is the Key is available now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

🎧 Listen to Josh’s first episode: My Favorite Mistake #244

Subscribe for more stories about leadership, culture, learning from mistakes, and growth.

🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and share if this resonated with you!

#CompanyCulture #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusinessGrowth #JoshCunningham #Rockerbox #CultureIsTheKey #BusinessBooks #MarkGraban #MyFavoriteMistake #StartUpLife #FiveStarCulture #WorkplaceCulture #BusinessLeadership

My guest for Episode #314 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Mark Struczewski, also known as “Mister Productivity.” Mark is a Houston-based productivity coach, speaker, and host of The Mister Productivity Podcast, with over 1,300 episodes to his name. He helps overwhelmed professionals cut through distractions and focus on what truly matters.

Episode page with video, transcript, and more

But before becoming a go-to expert on focus and effectiveness, Mark made a classic entrepreneurial mistake: thinking that launching a website would instantly attract a stream of clients. Spoiler alert—it didn’t.

Mark’s favorite mistake was stepping into solopreneurship with unrealistic expectations. After being fired from his corporate job in 2005 and officially launching his business in 2011, he quickly found himself burning money on coaches, conferences, and tools he didn’t need—without any real plan or payoff. The financial pressure eventually forced a mindset shift: instead of trying to do everything, he began focusing on the right things at the right time. That turning point not only saved his business—it became the foundation for his productivity philosophy.

In our conversation, Mark shares hard-earned lessons about clarity, focus, and sustainable productivity. We explore how he helps clients move past the illusion of “busyness,” why joy is an essential ingredient for productivity, and why it’s okay to slow down or even stop when your body and brain need a break. Mark also offers insight into how he uses tools like ChatGPT to streamline content creation and why being intentional with time is more powerful than packing your schedule. Whether you're a solopreneur or leading a team, this episode will challenge how you define and pursue productivity.

• What’s your favorite mistake from your career so far?
• Where do you think your unrealistic expectations as a solopreneur came from?
• How did you decide to stick with entrepreneurship instead of returning to corporate life?
• What specific changes did you make to turn things around in your business?
• How did you learn to focus instead of trying to be everywhere online?
• What’s the difference between productivity and effectiveness in your view?
• How do you help clients decide what’s truly worth their time?
• Can you share your definition of productivity?
• How do you tailor your coaching to each client’s unique situation?
• Why is clarity such a central part of your productivity approach?
• What’s your advice for getting clarity when feeling overwhelmed?
• How do you define success without falling into the “always working” trap?
• What are your thoughts on rest, recovery, and avoiding burnout?
• Do you believe productivity levels naturally fluctuate day to day?
• How do you personally manage high- and low-energy days?
• How do you use LinkedIn and DMs to build real relationships?
• What’s your take on scheduling content in advance vs. staying spontaneous?
• Can you tell us about your new ebook and how you used AI to create it?

My guest for Episode #313 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Amber Gaige, a marketing strategist, international bestselling author, and founder of Far Beyond Marketing. With over 20 years of experience, Amber helps entrepreneurs simplify their marketing and drive real results. She’s also the author of The Far Beyond Marketing Guidebook: Stop Being Duped by Bad Marketing, and the creator of the Four Cs of Effective Marketing Framework.

In this episode, Amber shares her favorite mistake—spending more than a decade working in a large, multi-division family business. While the experience taught her resilience, leadership, and business fundamentals, she reflects on how staying too long delayed her ability to find her own voice and build something truly independent. She opens up about the emotional complexity of leaving, the pressure of navigating work and family, and how that leap led her to grow—and eventually sell—a marketing business that launched her next chapter.

We also discuss common mistakes businesses make when it comes to marketing, especially when selecting agencies or falling for one-size-fits-all tactics. Amber highlights the importance of clear messaging, knowing your ideal customer, and embracing AI wisely—without letting it replace human insight. Her story is one of tenacity, self-discovery, and servant leadership—a valuable listen for any entrepreneur or leader navigating growth, branding, or family dynamics.

• What’s your favorite mistake from your career?
• What kind of family business were you involved in?
• Did you choose to join the business, or was it more of an expectation?
• Was your initial role in the family business something you wanted?
• Did it feel like a mistake right away, or did that come later?
• Were you involved in marketing within the family business, or did you have to leave to pursue that?
• Were your parents both in leadership roles? And were you held to a higher standard?
• What was the process like for deciding to leave the family business?
• How did the opportunity to build and spin off your own marketing company come about?
• Was selling the business to private equity your exit strategy from the family business?
• How did you apply lessons from the family business to your new venture?
• What challenges come with hiring or firing family members in a business?
• How did you transition from operating under the family umbrella to running your own company?
• What does "Far Beyond Marketing" mean to you and your clients?
• What does servant leadership mean in the context of your work?
• Do you have any stories of helping clients recover from marketing mistakes?
• What are some common mistakes businesses make when hiring a marketing agency?
• What are some newer marketing mistakes you're seeing, especially related to technology?
• What’s a smart way to use AI in marketing—and what’s a mistake to avoid?
• Can businesses be penalized for publishing AI-generated content?
• How can business owners use a book as a strategic tool beyond just sales?
• What are your Four Cs of effective marketing?
• How do you define “brand” beyond just a logo?
• Is it possible for marketing firms to unintentionally mislead clients?