Bold Enough to Fail: Finding Strength in Vulnerability (2025)

Reading Soundtrack: Shirley Horn "Here's to Life"

One of my all-time favorite films, Defending Your Life by Albert Brooks, has had a huge impact on how I think about the unknown. The story follows a man in the afterlife who has to prove that he didn’t let fear rule his choices—a concept that’s both thought-provoking and hilarious! I’ve watched it over 25 times, and each time, it reminds me of the balance between fear and freedom. It’s a film that keeps nudging me to ask myself: am I letting fear hold me back, or am I choosing to move forward despite it?

For years, I’ve developed a relationship with fear—learning to hold it, navigate it, and grow from it. But I’ve done so in private, quietly confronting boundaries without pushing them publicly. This year, I’m changing that.

We live in a world that celebrates polished success. Social media feeds are filled with awards, milestones, and triumphant announcements, each one shining brighter than the last. But what we don’t see—the stumbles, the near-misses, the quiet moments of self-doubt—are just as critical to the story. They’re where the real growth happens.

For the past 20 years, I built my life around my work, pouring everything into the pursuit of excellence and achievement. But this next chapter is different. As I build the Rhodes Heritage Group, I’m making a deliberate choice to recenter my life on a rhythm that is sustainable and intentional—one that creates space for moments with loved ones and leaves room for growth, curiosity, and reflection.

This shift doesn’t mean I’m stepping away from big dreams or bold ideas. In fact, it’s the opposite. By creating a life where work fits around my priorities instead of the other way around, I’m giving myself the freedom to take risks I might have avoided before. Risks like committing to fail publicly. Risks like allowing my journey, not just my achievements, to shape my legacy.

“And even though I’m satisfied, I’m hungry still. To see what’s down another road beyond the hill.” (Shirley Horn)

This year, I’m planning 4 failures—one for every quarter. These won’t be accidental or hidden mistakes; they’ll be intentional risks. They’ll be bold moves where the outcome is uncertain but the growth is inevitable.

By committing to fail publicly, I’m also committing to share the process. Not just the shiny, polished moments but the messy, raw ones too. Because when we share our failures, we invite others into the full truth of what it means to grow. And we send a powerful reminder to the each other that success isn’t a straight line, it’s a journey full of detours, dead ends, and discoveries.

“There’s no Yes in Yesterday.” (Shirley Horn)

This shift isn’t just personal—it’s a way of redefining how we view failure as a society. Too often, we treat failure as something to avoid, a shadow that looms over us. But what if it’s not the shadow? What if it’s the light?

So here’s to fear. Here’s to failure. Here’s to the freedom that comes when we stop running away from the unknown and start running toward it.

What risks will you take this year? What boundaries will you push? I invite you to join me—not just to celebrate the wins, but to embrace the stumbles that make the wins possible. Let’s redefine what it means to live with fear - and do it anyway!

“May all your storms be weathered, and all that’s good, get better.” (Shirley Horn)