“Failure Isn’t Who You Are. It’s Just Something That Happened” — Shannon Coulter on Letting Go, Starting Again, and Leading With Impact

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Cut The Tie Podcast with Shannon Coulter

What happens when an idea fails before the world is ready for it? And what happens when you carry that failure for years? In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Shannon Coulter to explore what it really takes to return to a calling you never stopped believing in.

Shannon shares her journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship, the painful pause after her first venture didn’t work, and the mindset shift that allowed her to come back stronger, clearer, and more grounded. They discuss why play matters, how technology has reshaped childhood and adulthood, and why success rooted in impact lasts longer than success rooted in approval.

This conversation is especially relevant for founders and executives who feel they waited too long, failed once already, or are carrying old narratives that no longer serve them.

About Shannon Coulter

Shannon Coulter is the creator of Planet FASSA, a platform designed to help families and communities move kids from tech-centered childhoods back to play-centered ones. Drawing from her background in corporate wellness campaigns and behavior change communications, Shannon blends psychology, habit formation, and rewards-based systems to encourage healthier offline behavior.

She is also the founder of Break the Chain, a coaching program that helps adults reclaim focus, intentionality, and time in a screen-driven world. Shannon’s work is rooted in impact, joy, and helping people reconnect with who they are meant to be.

In this episode, Thomas and Shannon discuss:

• Why failure should never become your identity
• The long-term cost of tech-centered childhoods
• Cutting ties with old labels and other people’s expectations
• The difference between being right and being happy
• Why play builds better adults, not just happier kids
• How to return to an idea after years away without repeating past mistakes
• Redefining success as impact rather than validation or metrics

Key Takeaways

• Failure is an event, not a definition
  If you tie your identity to failure, you never fully stand back up.
• Impact outlasts approval
  Success rooted in helping people endures longer than success rooted in recognition.
• Play builds resilience and leadership
  What kids learn through play shows up decades later in adulthood.
• Timing matters, but belief matters more
  If you cannot stop dreaming about something, it is not finished.
• Being happy beats being right
  Growth accelerates when ego steps out of the way.

Connect with Shannon Coulter

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/s-s-coulter-a437b86/

🌐 Website: https://sscoulter.com
🎙️ Upcoming Podcast: The Joy of Living

Connect with Thomas Helfrich

🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelfrich
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomashelfrich
🌐 Website: https://cutthetie.com
📧 Email: [e-mail]
🚀 https://instantlyrelevant.com

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