This Thanksgiving, we’re serving up a second helping of one of our favorite episodes featuring Cindi’s nephew, academic and author Spencer Fraseur.

In a world chasing perfectionism, Spencer makes a provocative case: failure is actually a competitive advantage. Drawing from his research and book Failing Upward, he lays out how resilience, reflection, and smarter pivots fuel success.

Packed with practical tools for turning missteps into momentum, this episode will change how you think about failure–and why embracing it can put you ahead.

About Spencer:

Spencer Fraseur is an academic and author of Failing Upward, a book that challenges the traditional views of failure and offers a new framework for embracing it as part of the journey toward success. Spencer recently received his Ph.D. in Strategic Management from the University of Texas at Arlington and currently serves as an Assistant Professor at Texas Woman’s University, where he continues to explore themes of resilience, learning, and personal development. His first book, The Irrational Mind, won the Royal Dragonfly Book Award in 2020.

*Connect with Spencer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerfraseur/

Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tnmdVVgyCug

*Purchase your copy of The Uncertainty Playbook here

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Want to Go Deeper? Check Out Our Recommended Reading:

Heinrich, Ally. “Why Failing is Critical to Your Team’s Success,” Harvard Business School Online Business Insights, 17 Apr. 2025, https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/failing-well
Wang, D, Wang, Y, and Jones, BF. “Early-career setback and future career impact,” Nature Communications, 1 Oct. 2019; 10, 4331, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12189-3

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Ep 86 - Why Failure Might Be Your Best Strategy with Spencer Fraseur