That’s on Me: Seasoned Executives Confess Their Rookie Mistakes

by Mike McHargue

Seasoned Executives Share Their Leadership Errors



One indication of a good leader is the willingness not only to admit mistakes but also to share those errors with others so that the cycle is not repeated. To do this takes humility and courage.



In Mike McHargue’s That’s on Me, nearly forty seasoned C-suite veterans, who have made all kinds of mistakes in their roles as leaders, share with you their insights on keeping teams focused, connecting with staff, running effective meetings, managing performance, and developing people. Their collective wisdom on the universal challenges of leadership can be applied to any leadership role and at any level.

184 pages, Hardcover

Published October 29, 2024

About the author

Mike McHargue is a public educator trusted by millions to use empathy and deep scientific insights to help them navigate some of the most difficult parts of the human experience. He’s the host of Ask Science Mike, co-founded the chart-topping show The Liturgists Podcast, is the bestselling author of Finding God in the Waves, and You’re a Miracle (and a Pain in the Ass), and works as a science advisor and story consultant for film and television working with clients including Marvel Studios and Pete Holmes.

Mike has been featured in The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, The Huffington Post, and scores of other notable publications. Mike is an in-demand speaker appearing all over the world—including appearances at Google and MIT. Mike’s next book You are a Miracle (and a Pain in the Ass) comes out on April 28, 2020.

Mike lives in Los Angeles, CA with his wife Jenny, his daughters Madison and Macey, and their beloved dog, Ruby.

Reviews

[Lindsey Barger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Greenleaf Audiobooks for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Some of the best advice I’ve been given in business has come from seasoned executives discussing their successes, but, more often, their failures. Mike McHargue brings together dozens of executives to share their personal experiences and business failures in his new book That’s On Me. With decades of his own experience in the C-Suite, McHargue pulls together these stories in a way that leaves readers feeling inspired to tackle their own business challenges head-on.

I give That’s On Me 4 out of 5 stars. This was a fantastic read with so many great stories from business leaders. You would not see these leaders put together at the same time in any other forum. Coming from multiple industries and management positions, these leaders show a vulnerability most executives don’t display in their day-to-day lives. I chose the audiobook version and found it tough to follow the chapter changes well. This is definitely a book I would recommend to business leaders looking to move up in their organizations.

With advice from multiple industries and business roles, this book would be a great gift for any new business leader. I would also recommend this to readers who have enjoyed other management books like Simon Sinek’s Start With Why or Think Again by Adam Grant. I would also recommend this as a great gift for business school graduates as they enter the workforce.

I have been very interested in management books recently and chose this book for the opportunity to learn from so many great leaders. This felt like a master class in learning how to effectively lead my people, develop systems and processes to serve my customers, and build a better business. I would love to see a continuation of this work!

[Charley Goodyear · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this book on audio, with the goal of keeping my brain occupied while I worked on menial tasks like the dishes. While it wasn’t a negative experience, it also wasn’t anything to write home about. The advice was rather generic leadership advice so the draw of the book is more of the personal stories rather than the advice, but even the stories got a bit repetitive. This book seems to be geared towards high level leaders of big companies, where I had hoped it would be a bit more applicable to leaders in smaller groups. Although the advice could be used, few of the stories connected well. My major grievance with this book is that the author and title of each section were listed at the end of each story, instead of at the beginning. This would probably be less annoying if I had read the book physically instead of as an audio, but it made it difficult to anticipate what the topic would be about and also didn’t flow well as audio. Also, Patrick Lencioni books are mentioned VERY frequently. It felt a bit like an ad at times. Overall the book was simply fine, not good and not bad.
Thank you to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group Press for the review copy, all opinions are my own.

[kylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

That's on Me is a quick read that provides a multitude of different perspectives, experiences, and stories to really highlight the practical advice provided. The book could be finished in a day, but the takeaways could be unpacked for the rest of your career.

You have to appreciate when people are willing to get vulnerable and discuss their failures with some sense of humility. Each story is a carefully curated snippet that really serves each overarching mistake and none of them dwell any longer than necessary to get their point across.

Mike McHargue shows readers how to avoid making those same mistakes with easy, actionable, and thoughtful advice and considerations for all levels of leadership without shaming those who shared with him their own faults (including his own personal stories!).

Thanks to NetGalley and Greenleaf Audiobooks for allowing me to listen to and review this book. All opinions are my own.

[Amanda T]

I finished this yesterday, I know I did, but overnight the entire book went "poof" in my brain. Nothing stuck - all I can remember is that another author's business book was mentioned so many times that I forgot this was supposed to be about executive mistakes. And that other book mentioned several times per chapter? Never heard of it. Did the author of THIS book get a kickback every time the other author was mentioned or the other book was shamelessly plugged? I wish I hadn't bothered.

No rating.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful, fresh perspective on how to tackle some business endeavours. Not everyone likes to admit their mistakes, but many can learn from them, and I am grateful for the opportunity provided by the author and Netgalley to review it honestly. The book is structured like a guideline, providing you with different perspectives to unpack the advice given. It is a quick read (3:15 hours audiobook), but the content will stay with you for a long time.

[Hannah Strouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s always refreshing to hear upper management positions share when they made mistakes and learned from them, it’s not something normalized and reminds us they’re human too. Thanks for the ARC copy NetGalley.