Failing Upward Hit #1: A Moment I’ll Never Forget
Well, damn. We did it.
There are moments in life that feel like they were written by some overly sentimental screenwriter—a little too on-the-nose to be real. Seeing Failing Upward hit #1 on Amazon’s New Releases for Artist Biographies was one of those moments. I stared at the screen for a good ten minutes, refreshing the page over and over, convinced it had to be some kind of glitch. But it wasn’t.
I can’t begin to describe the cocktail of emotions that hit me all at once: disbelief, pride, gratitude, and—let’s be real—a little imposter syndrome…because, let’s face it, my life has been a masterclass in how not to have it all together. And yet, here I am, sharing a table with some of the greatest stories of artists, creators, and misfits who’ve ever lived.
When I wrote Failing Upward, it wasn’t with this kind of recognition in mind. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure if anyone beyond my mom and a handful of friends would read it. The book was born out of years of self-doubt, heartbreak, and the desperate need to make sense of the chaos I’d stumbled through. It was written in coffee shops, on airplanes, in the quiet of early mornings when the world felt just a little less overwhelming.
And now? It’s out there. It’s connecting with people in ways I never dared to imagine. That’s what floors me the most. Messages from readers have been pouring in—people who’ve laughed, cried, and seen themselves in these stories of screw-ups, reinventions, and the messy pursuit of something meaningful.
Hitting #1 feels like a win not just for me, but for every person who’s ever felt like they were too lost, too broken, or too far behind to make something of their lives. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about perseverance. About owning your flaws, embracing the chaos, and finding beauty in the rubble…but, let me be clear: this moment didn’t happen because of me. It happened because of you…because of every person who picked up a copy, who shared the book with a friend, who left a review or sent me a kind word when I was knee-deep in self-doubt. You made this possible, and I don’t take that lightly.
So, here’s to all of you. Here’s to the dreamers, the misfits, the ones who keep stumbling forward no matter how many times life knocks them on their asses. Hitting #1 is incredible, but the real joy is knowing I’m part of a community that believes in the power of storytelling and the magic of second (and third, and fourth) chances.
Thank you for coming on this ride with me. Thank you for reminding me that even in failure, there’s a way forward…and thank you for proving that sometimes, the stories we’re most afraid to tell are the ones people need the most.
With all the gratitude in the world,
Matt Blum
