I Said It Out Loud… for the First Time
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This week, I stood in front of 1,400 people and did something I’ve never done before.
I told a story I’ve never told on stage.
Not a story about leadership failure.
I’ve shared plenty of those.
This one was different.
It was personal.
It was painful.
And it was really uncomfortable.
I talked about the worst day of my career—and how it embarrassed and humiliated me on a deeply personal level.
Why?
Because I’m writing a new book (Unignorable, coming soon), and with the help of my amazing book coach, Patricia Wooster, I realized something important:
I’ve always been willing to be vulnerable about where I’ve failed as a leader.
But I’ve rarely allowed myself to be vulnerable about where I’ve been hurt as a human.
That changed with Chapter 1.
Writing it was hard.
Delivering it on stage was even harder.
But the response?
More powerful than I imagined.
So many kind people came up afterward to say:
“Thank you for saying that out loud. I’ve felt that way too.”
Stretching sucks.
It’s awkward.
It’s humbling.
And it’s usually uncomfortable.
But growth doesn’t live inside your comfort zone.
Growth lives in that shaky, uncertain space where you’re not quite sure if you’re going to nail it or crash and burn.
And here’s the thing:
Most of the people we admire—the ones who seem bold, confident, “unignorable”—aren’t fearless.
They’re just willing to walk through the fear to get what they want most.
So if you’re in a moment right now where you’re being stretched by a new role, a big stage, a painful setback, or a quiet internal shift, take heart.
You’re not alone.
Growth doesn’t feel good while it’s happening.
But one day soon, you’ll look back and realize…
That moment changed everything.
Your coach,
Chris
P.S. If you’re in the middle of your own stretch and just need a sounding board, I’ve got space for a few 30-minute kickstart calls. No pitch—just support. Click here to grab your spot.
