If you’ve ever tried to reinvent yourself or build something from scratch, you already know the truth:
Creative success isn’t a straight line. It’s a zigzag. A loop. Sometimes it’s a complete backtrack followed by a leap forward you never saw coming.
When I sat down with Chris Cox on The Beyond Impact Podcast, it was refreshing to hear someone talk so openly about that journey. Chris is known for his work as a mentalist, performer, and stage producer, but his path wasn’t traditional—and it wasn’t fast.
“I had no idea what I was doing,” Chris told me. “But I just kept saying yes. I kept trying things. And I kept building what felt fun.”
That mindset—curious, scrappy, and honest—is one that’s served both of us throughout our creative careers.
Success Rarely Looks Like You Imagined
Chris started performing magic as a kid, then moved into radio, then television, then live theater. Somewhere along the way, he created his own touring show, joined The Illusionists cast, and landed on Broadway.
But it didn’t happen in a linear way. There wasn’t a blueprint. There was just passion, persistence, and the willingness to keep going even when things felt uncertain.
I’ve been there, too. From medical school aspirations to modeling, acting, and now coaching and entrepreneurship, my own journey has never followed a neat checklist. And that’s the point.
We’re not here to follow someone else’s path. We’re here to forge our own.
Failure Isn’t the Opposite of Success. It’s Part of It.
Chris shared how some of his biggest breaks came right after things fell apart. Like when a TV pilot didn’t get picked up. Or a tour fell through. In those moments, he could have quit. Instead, he pivoted.
“There’s always another idea,” he said. “Another door. Another stage. You just have to be willing to keep knocking.”
That lesson applies whether you’re in business, performance, or trying to build something meaningful in your life. Failure isn’t the end. It’s feedback. It’s friction. It’s fertilizer.
It might slow you down—but it doesn’t have to stop you.
You Don’t Have to Wait to Be Chosen
One of the biggest takeaways from Chris’s story is that he didn’t wait for permission. He created his own opportunities. He self-produced his show. He said yes to projects before he fully knew how to do them.
And it paid off.
That’s a message I hope more people take to heart. In the creative world—and in business—you don’t have to wait to be discovered. You can start now. You can start small. And you can get better as you go.
The path won’t be straight. But it will be yours.
Hear the Full Conversation with Chris Cox
Chris and I talked about the nonlinear journey of creating a meaningful career, the setbacks that shaped us, and why there’s real power in showing up before you feel ready.
Chris and I went deep on creativity, performance, and how curiosity has shaped every stage of his career—from radio and theater to world tours and Broadway.
Success doesn’t come from following a straight line. It comes from staying in motion—even when the road takes unexpected turns.
