There I was, LIVE on air, doing my daily show that also streams on the USA Today Networks. Ready to inspire, educate, and entertain – or at least not embarrass myself. I was hyped, camera rolling, countdown ticking, and then… BAM! I messed up. Not a little “oops,” but a full-blown “wait, what was I even saying?” kind of moment.

If you’re imagining me eloquently stumbling over my words, losing my train of thought, and making that face you make when you walk into a room and forget why you’re there… yep, you’ve got it. I could practically hear my 3rd-grade teacher shaking her head in disappointment.

But here’s the kicker – I kept going and you can too.

In that moment, I remembered something important: no one cares about your mess-ups as much as you do. Seriously. Most people watching probably didn’t even notice, or if they did, they were over it before I was. In a world where people are constantly scrolling, swiping, and multi-tasking, my little mishap was probably just a blip on their radar.

Now, I could have panicked, apologized a million times, or hit the panic button to end the broadcast and run away to a cave somewhere. But that’s not how life works, and it’s definitely not how live streaming works.

Instead, I kept talking. I made a joke, smiled (maybe a little too wide), and moved on. And guess what? The world didn’t end. The viewers didn’t revolt. I didn’t get a call from USA Today saying, “You’re fired.” Life kept moving, and so did I.

This moment – as cringey as it felt in real-time – was a reminder of a powerful truth: messing up is part of the human experience. We all trip, stumble, and fall flat on our faces at some point. Whether you’re live on camera, on stage, in a boardroom, or just living life, you’re going to have your “oops” moments. And that’s okay.

Perfection is overrated and Impossible

For all the perfectionists out there, clinging to the fear of failure like a security blanket – let it go. (And yes, feel free to sing that like Elsa from Frozen). If you wait for perfection before you take action, you’ll be waiting forever. If you’re scared of messing up, you’ll never take the leap. And if you’re always worried about what people think, you’ll stay stuck in place.

Guess what? I messed up live, and I’m still here. I got back up, finished the show, and moved on with my life. In fact, I’m even writing about it now. Why? Because messing up is human, and embracing those moments is where growth happens.

So, if you’re holding back because you’re afraid of failing, or if you’re letting one bad moment define you, stop. Get over it and keep moving on. Laugh it off, learn from it, and get back up again. Don’t let the fear of imperfection stop you from being the best version of who God made you to be.

Besides, life’s more fun when you can laugh at yourself. And trust me, I’ve had plenty of practice.

Here’s to falling, fumbling, and getting back up again – LIVE and in living color.

Stay human, stay awesome, and keep moving forward.

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