William Holsten: From Corporate Innovation to Carnival Failures—and the Lessons That Sparked “Uh-Oh!”
Meet William Holsten—The “Uh-Oh!” Navigator
In the ever-evolving world of entrepreneurship, unexpected detours are inevitable. For William Holsten, these detours didn’t just shape his career—they inspired a book that’s helping business owners navigate around common (and costly) mistakes.
A corporate innovation expert turned small business inventor, Holsten is the mind behind UH-OH! Avoid Unintentional Blunders that Derail Entrepreneurial Success, a practical and relatable toolkit for entrepreneurs. In this powerful episode of Direct Or Detour, William opens up about his decades-long corporate career, his leap into carnival game creation, and the pivotal “uh-oh” moments that nearly ended it all.
Inside the Episode: From Boardrooms to Backyard Games
William Holsten didn’t always envision becoming an author—or an inventor. Originally dreaming of baseball fame, he pursued a degree in communications and launched a successful career in advertising and brand management. His talent for copywriting and innovation landed him roles at top healthcare brands, eventually transitioning into global R&D leadership.
But Holsten’s story takes an unexpected—and fascinating—turn. Inspired by a family event, William and his wife launched WhirlWhims LLC, creating patented carnival games like PitchBurst for backyard rentals. While the business initially showed promise, a series of product failures, design oversights, and mounting debt almost cost him everything—including his health.
During the episode, Holsten reflects on the crushing weight of trying to balance a demanding day job, a floundering side hustle, and his eventual need for heart surgery. But instead of walking away with defeat, he walked away with wisdom—and eventually, a book packed with 10 powerful tools that help entrepreneurs sidestep the same mistakes.
💡 Key Takeaways from William Holsten’s Journey
- A career built on communication and creativity: William transitioned from PR to advertising to global innovation within the healthcare industry.
- Side hustle to near collapse: His carnival game business, WhirlWhims LLC, saw early success—but suffered from flawed materials and insufficient testing.
- Turning failure into a framework: His biggest mistakes inspired UH-OH!, a book with 10 strategic tools for avoiding business blunders.
- Health as a wake-up call: Quadruple bypass surgery forced William to re-evaluate his time, energy, and priorities.
- Creative innovation as a calling: William’s move to R&D allowed him to lead ideation sessions across the globe—blending passion and profession.
🎯 Why UH-OH! Is More Than a Business Book
Holsten’s book isn’t just a memoir of mistakes—it’s a practical guide to strategic thinking. He shares tools like:
- Self-assessments to identify your risk blind spots
- Premortems to analyze what could go wrong—before it does
- Reframing techniques to gain fresh perspectives
- Customer experience mapping
- The value of “kicking the snot out of it” before going to market
Whether you’re a startup founder, creative professional, or side hustler juggling multiple roles, Holsten’s insights offer timeless strategies for thinking smarter, planning better, and bouncing back stronger.
🎧 Ready to Hear the Full Story?
William’s story is a masterclass in navigating life’s detours. Tune into this episode of Direct Or Detour for real talk, real lessons, and a refreshing take on what it really means to fail forward.
🎙 Listen Now: Click to play the episode
🔗 Explore More from William Holsten
- 🌐 Website: https://williamholsten.com
- 📘 Book: UH-OH! Avoid Unintentional Blunders that Derail Entrepreneurial Success
- 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/william-holsten
- 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/william.a.holsten
👋 Want to Be a Guest on Direct Or Detour?
We’re always looking for inspiring guests who’ve navigated life’s twists and turns.
👉 Apply here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/directordetour
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