I’m recording this episode from Mile High Stadium, just ahead of the AFC title game. The vibe? Electric. The poem? A little more serious:

Progress can be cruel:

Pain and stress constantly mount

Differently than growth.

In this episode of Poetry in Marketing, I reflect on the hard truth that progress—whether in football, business, or marketing—is rarely linear. You don’t win every time just because you won last time. And even when the effort is there, the results don’t always show up when or how we want.

Whether you’re managing a team, building a brand, or chasing your next big marketing win, this is your reminder to celebrate the wins and stay steady through the setbacks.