Chasing Failure: Real Life Lessons from One Man’s Shot at the NBA with Ryan Leak

Chasing Failure: Real Life Lessons from One Man’s Shot at the NBA with Ryan Leak

Author: Jim Harshaw, Jr. September 20, 2021 Duration: 32:57

Action Plan: https://jimharshawjr.com/ACTION
Free Clarity Call: https://jimharshawjr.com/APPLY

 

What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail? How would it change your life?

Ryan Leak is an author, speaker, executive coach, and filmmaker. He is widely known as the groom who pulled off The Surprise Wedding where he proposed to his girlfriend and married her on the same day. 

The number one question he still gets is, “What if she said no?” 

It was a risk he was willing to take.

The video going viral led him to think about what others would do if they weren’t afraid of hearing “no” or of being met with failure. 

Ryan realized that many people never pursue their hopes and dreams because they pre-calculate their own failure. They quit before they ever even try.

So, he asked himself: What would he want to do if he knew he could not fail? The answer was easy— he’d be in the NBA— and since the only way to know if that dream could be a reality was to try, that is exactly what he did.

In this episode, Ryan joins us to amplify why our show is called Success Through Failure. Listen in as we talk about procrastination, “perfection pressure,” how chasing failure will take you further than chasing success, and of course, his stories of success BECAUSE of failure. Tune in now!

If you don’t have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don’t have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode— as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode— at http://www.JimHarshawJr.com/Action.  


There's a particular drive that comes from a background in sports, a mindset forged in competition and discipline that doesn't just switch off when you leave the field. Success for the Athletic-Minded Man taps directly into that energy, translating the core principles of athletic performance into tools for everyday life. Host Jim Harshaw, Jr. understands that the same clarity needed to execute a game plan, the focus required in a critical moment, and the consistency of daily practice are the exact traits that define winning in business, relationships, and personal health. This isn't about finding more hours in the day; it's about applying a strategic, trained approach to all of it. Each episode feels like a conversation with a coach who's been in your shoes, addressing the real tension between ambitious career goals, being a present father and partner, and maintaining physical fitness without letting any single priority suffer. You'll hear practical discussions on management, self-improvement, and the mental frameworks that help you stop shortchanging the areas that matter most. The podcast moves beyond theory, offering actionable insights for men who aim to build a life of sustained achievement, where success is measured across the board, not just on a scoreboard.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Success for the Athletic-Minded Man
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