64 - Every Rose Has Thorns. That’s What Makes It Real
Even passion has pain. This episode explores how frustration, setbacks, and emotional letdowns are not signs of failure but proof that you’re doing something real. Learn how to embrace the thorns that come with meaningful work.
Every Rose Has Thorns. That’s What Makes It Real
Success stories often skip the part where things fall apart. They leave out the technical glitch mid-performance. The half-empty room after weeks of exhausting preparation. The passion project that never quite came to life. But if you’ve ever poured your heart into something meaningful and watched it go sideways, you know that sting.
This episode of MKC - Micro Keynote Concert zooms in on the emotional realities of purpose-driven work. And it reframes the setbacks not as failures, but as signals that what you’re doing actually matters.
Here are the key insights from the episode:
Frustration means you care.
Disappointment isn’t a weakness. It’s a compass. If you feel that sting when something doesn’t go right, it’s not a flaw; it’s confirmation that your work carries meaning. That emotional weight is part of the process, not a detour from it.Setbacks don’t erase the beauty.
The beautiful moments, the harmony, the clarity, the breakthroughs coexist with the moments that sting. Just like thorns on a rose, those painful edges are what make the experience whole and honest.Real passion includes rough edges.
Perfection isn’t proof of excellence. Reality is. When things go wrong but you still show up, adapt, and keep creating, that’s what turns a good performance into a meaningful one.Resilience is built by staying present.
Most people interpret pain as a signal to stop. But in truth, pain can be a prompt to go deeper. To recommit. To work smarter, not softer. To stay, even when it’s hard, especially when it’s hard.
Closing Thought
In a world obsessed with polish, this episode is a reminder that real beauty has texture. The thorns don’t ruin the rose. They prove that it’s alive. If your work has ever hurt, listen to this.
Because the sting might just be the sign you’re on the right path.
Highlights:
00:00 Introduction: The Pain of Passion Projects
00:04 Facing Disappointments and Technical Failures
00:15 The Sting of Mid-Performance Issues
00:24 Embracing the Rough Edges
00:48 Frustration as a Sign of Caring
Links:
Website: https://www.jimperona.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimperonaofficial/
Transcript:
Even the things we love the most will sometimes hurt us. I've had passion projects that I poured my heart into and they didn't go how I hoped. The prep was exhausting, but the turnout was not what I imagined or something technical went wrong. Mid performance, and it stings. It stings because he cares so much, but those moments don't erase the beauty. They remind you that if something matters to you, the rough edges are part of the journey. Every rose has its thorn and those thorns prove that the rose is real. Frustration is not a sign to quit. It's a sign that you care enough to push through, and that's how the best work gets made.
