I have been sitting with failure in this season, and it has taken me on a deeper journey than I expected. I am spending time reflecting on my failures in ways that are honest and necessary. I am learning that failure hurts. I am also learning, through John C. Maxwell’s Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success, that failure is an event, even when the pain feels personal and lasting. The hurt shows up in real ways. It shows up when I share something meaningful and no one seems to notice. It shows up when I am passed over for opportunities I believed I was ready for. It shows up when I write a blog post and there is clearly no resonance from even friends or loved ones. Those moments can feel like confirmation of failure, and they sting more than I want to admit.

I have been thinking about the idea that a prophet is not always accepted in their own town, and it has stayed with me. I have tried to find traction in familiar places and have come up short more times than I want to admit. I have felt unseen in places where I once felt grounded. I have carried an idealized vision of a band, a space where strengths are valued and belonging is real. I am coming to terms with the reality that this kind of space may not exist for me in my own neighborhood. That realization has been difficult, but it has also been clarifying.

What remains is the work and the responsibility to create what I cannot find.

I will keep writing, keep blogging, and keep podcasting because that is what I can contribute. I am building spaces like “Leading While Human,” the upcoming “Real Riffs,” and The Disruption Table because I am searching for kinship and connection. I am looking to build something that reflects the kind of belonging I know is possible. I may not be tapped for certain opportunities, but I am beginning to see that those missed opportunities may be leading me toward something better, something more aligned with who I am and what I value.

Some days it is easy to hold onto that truth. Other days it is painful.

I believe this work is leading me toward a path where I can help other leaders navigate failure with honesty and courage. I have already begun that work through my writing and my podcasts, and I see it growing into something more. I want to help others lead while human, to make space for reflection, belonging, and truth in a profession that often asks us to hide those very things.

I am learning to ignore the noise and stay focused on what is mine to offer with honesty and care. I know this work is leading somewhere, even if I cannot fully see it yet. My writing is more than expression. It is my way of reaching beyond my immediate surroundings to connect with others who are also navigating failure and searching for belonging.

Failure is part of the story, but it is not the end of it.

I will keep going.