#006 Success, Failure, & Youth Sports

In this episode of The State I Am In, I speak not just as a parent, but as a coach and former Little Leaguer myself. From hitting my first home run to striking out with the game on the line, I share personal stories that shaped how I view success, failure, and what youth sports are really all about.

Now, as a coach and dad, I’ve seen firsthand how much we want to shield our kids from struggle—but that instinct might be doing more harm than good. I make the case for letting kids experience the hard stuff: the losses, the tough practices, the moments where things don’t go their way. These are the moments that build grit, teach teamwork, and reveal character—not just in our kids, but in us as parents too.

This episode is a call to keep the standard high—not because life is easy, but because our kids are capable. And they’ll never know what they can do unless we give them the chance to find out.