Moving

The Unexpected Gifts Of Failure

Original Air Date: June 14, 2021

Failure.

A complete sentence. 

Is it a teacher 

Or a jailer? 

Is it a beginning 

Or does it end there? 

Where do you place your next step 

When the ground beneath you begins to erupt? 

Maybe if there was something to grasp, 

If it wasn’t so abrupt.

Perhaps if no one was watching, 

Not even me seeing me.

 Then this…

Failure

Would be easier to swallow. 

If self-criticism were a competition, 

I’d be a tough act to follow. 

Perfection.

Maybe it can serve as my protection. 

From any and all

Ridicule  

And rejection

And failure. 

There is fog on the glass of my reflection. 

I find the courage to wipe it, 

I shine back clearer. 

I need to reexamine my definition. 

A life without failure 

Actually sounds 

Kind of boring. 

Where would be the discovery? 

The intrigue? 

The lessons learned from walking through the fire 

And getting just a bit burnt. 

Realizing the nightmare scenes 

Are actually just branches of trees 

Scratching at my window.

Scary shadows revealed to be nothing. 

But it’s the confronting. 

The facing. 

The tasting the fear on your tongue 

And rather than deciding to run...

Moving forward. 

Moving toward that which I find to be frightening. 

Failure. 

It can be a beautiful teacher. 

Not gentle. 

But honest.  

Failure. 

Unexpected gifts found within if I’m willing to persist. 

To insist:

I know. I know. 

There is danger waiting. 

But I’d rather lose it all

Than die knowing 

I never even tried. 

I had all of these ideas

And just kept them shut inside. 

We get to decide when failure is an ending. 

A complete sentence. 

A teacher or 

A jailer. 

And when failure 

Is actually the greatest of all treasures. 

P.S. I hope you enjoy this week’s episode: ‘The Unexpected Gifts Of Failure.’

tomearl.me/giftsof

Facebook & Instagram Ads Reflections With Nickey Rautenberg & Tom Earl

Do you use paid ads for digital marketing? Should you?

On this week’s episode, I’m joined by a brilliant marketer, Nickey Rautenberg Norrish, as we discuss the ever controversial topic of… paid Instagram and Facebook Ads.

This topic has so many layers, it was fun unpeeling them by reflecting on best practices and past .

Most people don’t know that with a low budget ad spend, they can be getting 25x the clients vs. organic reach… and with a lot less effort. 

But so many are unsure of the unknown, have heard horror stories of ads being rejected, or just don’t know where to begin.

That’s why Nickey and I really get into the science of ads and how to use them, with tips on what you should do next to get started or optimize what you’re already doing.

I get the honor of working with Nickey through my Facebook Ads agency - THE Celebration Media, so I can say she’s truly an expert I trust!

🎧 Ready to listen? Let’s go!

You can watch or listen here: www.tomearl.me/nickey

Wanna know more? Follow Nickey on instagram.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Complex Connection and Unrestrained Release With Andrea Hodos and Omar El

We’re back for another one of my favorite style episodes where we dive DEEP into gratitude with two seriously amazing guests. 

This week was full of beautiful feelings that could only be described by one of our guests, Omar El, as therapeutic.

Andrea Hodos is an artist, the creator of Moving Torah and an Associate Director at NewGround: a Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change.

She goes deep to talk about connecting to yourself as well as others and shares how she helps others to do just that.

She spends much of her time connecting people with their roots.

Omar describes himself as complex, an idealistic dreamer who is hardy and multidimensional. He shares his vision for the world and what he’s currently creating for the world at HighAtlas.Shop.

You won’t want to miss what these two lovely people share with us on this episode of Complex Connection and Unrestrained Release…

Get in touch with Andrea on her website:

Hang out with Omar on Instagram:

Ready to dive in?

🎧 Listen now: www.tomearl.me/ao

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

The Unexpected Gifts Of Failure

Failure.

A complete sentence. 

Is it a teacher 

Or a jailer? 

Is it a beginning 

Or does it end there? 

Where do you place your next step 

When the ground beneath you begins to erupt? 

Maybe if there was something to grasp, 

If it wasn’t so abrupt.

Perhaps if no one was watching, 

Not even me seeing me.

 Then this…

Failure

Would be easier to swallow. 

If self-criticism were a competition, 

I’d be a tough act to follow. 

Perfection.

Maybe it can serve as my protection. 

From any and all

Ridicule  

And rejection

And failure. 

There is fog on the glass of my reflection. 

I find the courage to wipe it, 

I shine back clearer. 

I need to reexamine my definition. 

A life without failure 

Actually sounds 

Kind of boring. 

Where would be the discovery? 

The intrigue? 

The lessons learned from walking through the fire 

And getting just a bit burnt. 

Realizing the nightmare scenes 

Are actually just branches of trees 

Scratching at my window.

Scary shadows revealed to be nothing. 

But it’s the confronting. 

The facing. 

The tasting the fear on your tongue 

And rather than deciding to run...

Moving forward. 

Moving toward that which I find to be frightening. 

Failure. 

It can be a beautiful teacher. 

Not gentle. 

But honest.  

Failure. 

Unexpected gifts found within if I’m willing to persist. 

To insist:

I know. I know. 

There is danger waiting. 

But I’d rather lose it all

Than die knowing 

I never even tried. 

I had all of these ideas

And just kept them shut inside. 

We get to decide when failure is an ending. 

A complete sentence. 

A teacher or 

A jailer. 

And when failure 

Is actually the greatest of all treasures. 

P.S. I hope you enjoy this week’s episode: ‘The Unexpected Gifts Of Failure.’

FLYER 4.jpg

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Moving Beyond Fear and Embracing your Experience With Nurjahan Boulden

What fear have you been carrying that you are ready to set down?

What would it look like to move beyond fear and embrace your experiences?  

This week’s episode provides a bold and courageous reflection on these questions. 

My guest, Nurjahan Boulden, was 21 years old when she was shot with an assault rifle in an attack that killed the man next to her. 

That one night changed the trajectory of her life. 

Even as she moved on to become a teacher and mother of three, PTSD and complications from the bullet wound continually threatened her future. 

13 years later, she is now recognized as America’s leading coach for survivors of gun violence who are ready to Feel Safe Again™. 

Fear has been a companion of mine during 2020. I have a feeling I am not alone in this. 

Rather than numbing myself or hiding from it, I have made it a goal to confront, get to know, and investigate my fears. 

A significant part of that journey is listening to the stories, wisdom and reflections from others who are on that same path. 

This episode with Nurjahan is one that I listen to often when I need a reminder of the inner-power that I, and all of us, possess.

For the astute listener keeping track at home, you’ll note that this episode originally aired May 13, 2019. 

As I was re-listening to it this week, I knew that the messages and insights Nurjahan shares could really serve a lot of us at this very moment. 

Even if you distinctly remember listening to this episode when it first aired, I passionately urge you to give it a re-listen. 

The experiences you have gained over the past 1.5 years will allow you to gain new gifts as you re-listen. 

Trust me. 

Do yourself this favor of hitting play. 

Thank you, Nurjahan, for sharing such a vulnerable, authentic, and empowering interview. 

Nurjahan podcast Copy.jpg

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.