You’re Gonna Fail. You Have to Fail.
I turned 45 on February 9, 2025.
Yikes!
For some reason, this one seemed OLD.
Maybe it’s because I clearly remember my 40th birthday— and that seems like a blink ago.
Or, maybe it’s because my 4-year-old son said to me—just a few days before my birthday—“Dad, you’re gonna go up and see God when you’re 50.”
Talk about a sobering moment—a you better get after it moment.
My wife is The Queen of gifts.
I didn’t want anything for my birthday.
And I told her so.
With two little boys, we have so much stuff in the house that material possessions just seemed like more clutter.
So, she got me a 6-week beginner watercoloring class at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design.
I got pretty choked up when I opened the gift.
Like I said, she’s The Queen.
You see, I have a hobby.
Ever since I was a kid, I was always pulled in by drawing—in my younger years, Ed Emberley was my guide.
About 5 years ago, in the midst of the pandemic—and in a time when I was struggling to figure our my business—I picked up some pens and pencils again.
I simply haven’t been able to put them down since.
Sssssshhhhhh: I have this secret fantasy that one day I’ll be able to powerfully integrate my art into the work that I do as a speaker and coach.
Oh, it’s fun to dream.
Over the past 5 years, my hobby has expanded beyond pens and pencils.
A couple months ago I picked up a little travel watercolor kit.
If you’re anything like me, I have a tendency to think that because I am good in one domain, I’ll just instantly be good in a related domain.
Not the case.
From my first brush stroke, it was clear that I am very much a beginner.
And I began to question whether I really wanted to try to integrate watercoloring into my drawings.
I considered quitting before ever really beginning.
Hence the perfect gift from my wife—always driving me toward my dreams and goals.
My instructor, Stephen Nesser, speaks my language.
From the very first class, he has been preaching to us:
"You’re gonna fail. You have to fail. The only way youare going to learn is by making mistakes.”
Maybe it’s hearing things at the right time and the right place.
Or maybe it’s hearing it from the right person.
Either way, I’m listening.
And hearing — and applying — this sentiment.
I just finished my third class and, like most classes, the content is building on previous classes.
And, therefore, getting harder and harder.
On my end, mistake after mistake after failure after failure after mistake…
…with a huge FUCKING grin on my face every time.
There is so much freedom:
"You’re gonna fail. You have to fail. The only way youare going to learn is by making mistakes.”
I’m learning.
I’m growing.
I’m getting better.
I’m moving closer to a dream.
Yesterday morning I was working on a mountain landscape.
Things were going really well.
I put a piece of tape down on painted paper to create a straight line.
I got a straight line…
…and a huge rip on the paper that I had already painted.
I tried to paint over the huge rip out of my paper.
The colors didn’t match.
I failed.
I learned.
I grew.
I got better.
I moved closer to a dream.
I smiled.
Old me would have gotten pissed.
Like I said, maybe I’m hearing things at the right time and the right place.
Maybe I’m hearing it from the right person.
"You’re gonna fail. You have to fail. The only way youare going to learn is by making mistakes.”
Whatever you’re working on…
Whatever you’re working toward…
Whatever skill may lead to a dream…
…don’t let perfectionism keep you from acquiring the skill.
"You’re gonna fail. You have to fail.”
And you’ll learn…
…you’ll grow…
…you’ll get better…
…and you’ll move closer to a dream.
Fail on—it’s quite a free place to live.
Onward.