As we move into 2020, I wanted to do an episode in retrospect and talk about The Failure That Kicked My Ass and how it changed my life...for the better.

Why should we talk about failure?

Some people feel shame in talking about their projects or jobs that didn’t pan out. I feel the exact opposite!

I think it’s important to look at the reasons that we got into the places that we did in the last year or two... or further back.

It’s important to think of what we can do to carry forward these lessons that we’ve learned as well as forgive ourselves for the things that we’ve done to participate in that, and just recognize that that’s now part of our story.

That’s the WHY. And there’s no shame in it.

My Story

I’m not going to list down my entire timeline here, but I do talk about it in detail in this episode. What I will say is this, in 2018 I experienced heartache, rejection, depression, unemployment, and fear. I felt tired and unappreciated at times, and I was constantly questioning myself. I have seen my loved ones get hurt and I have hurt myself emotionally as well.

I was scarred, but I kept going. By 2019, a few windows had opened and I saw a spark change in me.

I’m convinced now that if I hadn’t been pushed out, I would never have accomplished the things that I have accomplished and this is the universe or God saying “Ok, Riah you have to do this different thing because you’re not gonna do it on your own so I’m gonna go ahead and close this for you.” Once I grabbed on to new possibilities with both hands, things rapidly grew.

By the end of 2019, I have gained 5 employees, a marketing apprentice and I a heart full of hope and an ass that is still bruised from this failure. It still hurts, and the fact that I was fired weeks before my 40th birthday really still ruins my birthday.

But this is my story, I’m sticking to it, and I’m not ashamed. I’m not ashamed to say that I failed because it means I have left myself available for all of the opportunities that are to come and I am embracing every single bit.

It took me a while, but I have learned to move from that part of my life into something better.

To anyone who is reading and listening, thank you so much for supporting this podcast and for being part of my year. I ask that you would share this podcast with other people that might benefit from it. Join us on the Client Experience Revolution Facebook Group and put your 2 cents in, I want to hear what you would like to hear about.

And let’s all be human on my social media. Let’s walk alongside each other in the good times and the bad and let’s just keep talking about it because that’s really what it’s all about.