My F@&K Up Nights Experience: A Story Worth Honking About

Back in February, I had the privilege of stepping onto the stage at FuckUp Nights YYC, and sharing a story I once considered one of my biggest career failures.

First, a heartfelt thank you to Amanda Ovaici, Shahr(zad) Savizi-Smed, and Shea Coburn, thank you for inviting me, supporting me, and creating space for stories like mine. Your belief in the power of vulnerability turned a stressful moment in my early career into a truly empowering experience.

Yes, I’ll say it loud and proud – I’m a FuckUp.

But as I learned that night, and as our community continues to prove, failure isn’t the end. It’s just a plot twist. I was honoured to share the stage with some incredible humans and storytellers:
Benjamin Kemp, Peter Smith, Jill Dewes, and Stephanie Kochorek  thank you for your bravery and brilliance.

My story? It was about how a single (massive) career mistake unexpectedly led me to connect with over 1,000 Calgarians, and even resulted in a donation to the City of Calgary. It’s wild how resilience, community, and a refusal to quit can turn disaster into something meaningful.

And for those who were in the audience,  don’t forget to give Dad’s Bridge a double honk when you drive by. It means more to me and my family than you know.

Here’s to failing forward, laughing at the mess, and finding the magic in the lessons.

Get your tickets at the next event : FuckUp Nights YYC – August 14, 2025 – VENUE 308. – Calgary – Aug 14, 2025 ·

I’ll see you all there.

#FuckUpNightsYYC #FailureToSuccess #LessonsLearned #Community

Your Friend
Danijel Slisko