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Robert Eckelman

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They Thought I'd Fail in the CTV Business. Here's Why I Leaped Anyway

Always bet on yourself. I did in the CTV business.

What's funny is that the biggest obstacle was never what other people thought. It was what I thought. For years, I looked at my peers and assumed they were smarter, more talented, and better equipped for success than I was.Instead of letting that intimidate me, I tried to learn from them. I worked harder. I got better.

Always bet on yourself.

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In elementary school, I was put in the slow class.

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In college, I was told I couldn't pursue my major after failing a spelling exam. (I graduated cum laude. Spell that.)

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Early in my career, I heard all kinds of reasons why sales wasn't for me. Too introverted. Asked too many questions. Challenged too many assumptions.

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I became a General Sales Manager.

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In late 2017, I left a great job to start a CTV company when most people were still trying to figure out what CTV even was. More than a few people thought I would be back looking for a job before long.

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I wasn't.

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What's funny is that the biggest obstacle was never what other people thought. It was what I thought.

‍

For years, I looked at my peers and assumed they were smarter, more talented, and better equipped for success than I was.

Instead of letting that intimidate me, I tried to learn from them. I worked harder. I got better.

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The reality is that most of the limits we face come from other people's experiences, fears, and assumptions.

I have learned that some people are willing to jump and see what happens. Others stay where it's comfortable because the unknown feels risky.

Neither is right nor wrong.

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But if you're chasing something meaningful, eventually you have to trust yourself enough to make the leap.

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Most of the things I'm proudest of in life happened after someone suggested they probably wouldn't.

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Bet on yourself.

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