As a teen, I was cut freshman year from my college soccer team.

Which means I never experienced a single minute on that college soccer stage.

But if it hadn’t been for soccer, I’m certain I never would have been accepted into Ithaca’s first-rate Television-Radio program.

In my 20s, I was never considered part of the “go-to” creative team in NYC.

That meant I rarely got a shot at the A+ accounts like Dos Equis or Volvo.

But if I hadn’t been left out, I never would have developed the mettle I’d need to handle the roller coaster of running my own company a decade later.

In my 30s, I never heard back from a single traditional publisher I sent my manuscripts to.

For nearly a decade, established publishing companies passed.

But if I hadn’t found another way, I never would have published four books; each one I remain proud of to this day.

In my 40s, I got passed over for keynotes and business opportunities regularly.

My company has come in “second place” too many times to count. Every one still stings.

But usually, each is just a data point telling me: 1) we weren’t clear enough, or 2) the chemistry wasn’t there.

I have repeatedly FAILED across every stage in every decade of my life.

That doesn’t make me a FAILURE.

Every one of those ‘failures’ gave me something I needed to keep growing and keep going.

Victors seldom play the victim card.

This week, remember:

So you got knocked down…

You know what you need to do next.

Those who keep coming in second eventually come in first.

⚡⚡⚡

Sometimes coming in second can feel like coming in first.

I am happy to share that The Courageous Podcast is officially a w3 Award winner, taking home a Silver in this year’s competition.

We didn’t start this show five years ago to win awards. We started it to have courageous conversations with people willing to go there with us. 7,000+ questions about courage, fear, leadership, and change later, it sure is nice to be recognized.

It’s also nice to recognize the people who make the show go. So, thank you to Kimberly Voorhis and my producer Mitch Bluestein who have dealt with my unreasonable requests and edits on the regular the last 1800+ days.

Finally, this podcast wouldn’t be what it is without the guests who show up willing to get real, or the Courageous community that listens, shares, responds and keeps these conversations going long after an episode ends.