When Life Turns to 💩, We Laugh

By Elke Porter | WBN News Vancouver | April 25, 2025

Thursday, April 24, 2025, Vancouver proudly declared: “Failure is the new black.” And nowhere was that more true than at the long-awaited revival of #FckupNights at Granville Island’s Performance Works — a night where mistakes were the main course and ego was left at the door (right beside the bar and a stack of nervous entrepreneurs clutching Post-It notes).

First things first: a huge round of applause to volunteers Marilyn Anderson and Elke Porter, whose first official job was… wait for it… hanging poop emojis on the media wall. Because nothing screams “photo op” like commemorating that moment when your life turned into 💩. Think Hollywood red carpet — if Hollywood forgot to budget for glam and decided instead to lean hard into reality.

Guests were invited to scribble their own personal f-ups on sticky notes, turning one wall into an oddly inspiring collage of chaos. ("Bought crypto in 2022" was spotted more than once.)

The lineup of speakers may have shuffled like someone dropped the cue cards, but the stories were solid gold:

George Moen kicked things off, talking about his mining catastrophe, and in the Q & A session afterwards casually admitting he’d lost everything — twice — including his business, money, and metaphorical shirt. But, like any true comeback king, he’s now back and better, advising others how to crash spectacularly and recover like a boss. He even gave the audience goosebumps with his bathroom mirror pep talk: “You are not going down today. You will survive.” Just like the Gloria Gaynor song. Cue applause.
Kam Tabarraee followed, Kam’s tale was the startup equivalent of a Netflix thriller. He trusted an investor who promised the moon but delivered a flaming meteor of deceit. Kam and his Bootleggers team spent money they didn’t even have (note: never celebrate until the cheque clears), and to add insult to injury, he found out on his birthday. Bet you didn’t blow out those candles, huh?
Closing out the night, Jean Louis Hardy blended faith, philosophy, and fierce strategy to help us all embrace the #faceplant as part of the climb. Imagine losing a company worth millions, only to end up homeless with your daughter beside you, asking: “Daddy… is it normal to feel hungry all the time?”
Heart-wrenching? Absolutely. But Jean Louis turned that pain into purpose, now helping others climb back up from rock bottom with grit, grace, and gospel.

Emcee Earl Flormata kept the night rolling with charisma, while the World Referral Network (WRN) and WBN News volunteers ran the camera, door, and general vibe control like seasoned party pros. The result? A perfectly imperfect night celebrating the glorious mess of entrepreneurship.

Moral of the story? If you haven’t f*cked up lately, are you even trying?
✨See you at the next round of professional chaos. Bring your poop emoji.

But what’s really behind this wild, wonderful, poop-emoji-loving evening?

💥 The Global Vibe: What is Fuckup Nights?

Founded in Mexico City in 2012, Fuckup Nights has grown into a worldwide community in 300+ cities across 90+ countries. The mission? Smash the taboo around failure. From corporate boardrooms to indie cafés, the message is clear: failure isn’t the end. It’s the messy middle of a story worth telling.

Whether you tanked a business, flubbed a product launch, or made a spectacular career pivot — you belong.

🙋‍♂️ Who’s Behind It in Vancouver?

Meet Earl Flormata, the man with the plan (and the guts) to bring Fuckup Nights to the west coast. His debut event on April 24th sold 80+ tickets, filled the room with energy, and delivered the kind of raw, hilarious, and healing honesty you just don’t get at traditional networking events. He’s planning the next one in three months, and if you’ve got a story to tell — now’s the time to step forward.

🧠 Wait…What’s a “Fuckupper”?

Glad you asked. A Fuckupper is an official licensee and community builder. They run the show in their city — organizing events, recruiting speakers, and holding space for real talk. It’s a year-long commitment, and each Fuckupper hosts at least four events a year (minimum one every three months). And yes, it's a global family, complete with training, templates, marketing support, and exclusive access to an international network of rebels and risk-takers.

💡 Can You Be a Fuckupper?

If you're:

Passionate about vulnerability and growth,
Obsessed with building community,
Not afraid to say "I f*cked up" in front of a crowd...

Then yes. You might just be the next city’s champion of the failed-but-fabulous. (Psst — only one Fuckupper per city is allowed, so move fast if you're thinking about it.)

🌍 Why It Matters

In a world that worships perfect LinkedIn profiles and flawless Instagram feeds, Fuckup Nights brings the power of real back to the stage. It's not just an event. It’s a movement toward collective liberation from the shame of failure.

So next time you think about your biggest mistake, maybe ask yourself:
"Is it time to share this with the world?"

🔗 Want to speak, sponsor, or just sit in the front row and cheer like crazy?
Reach out to Earl Flormata — and follow @FuckupNightsVancouver for updates on the next event.

Because around here? We don’t just survive failure. We celebrate it.

#Fail Forward, #Vancouver Events, #Fckup Nights, #Embrace Failure, #WRN Community, #Granville Island #WBN News Vancouver #Elke Porter

Connect with Elke at Westcoast German Media or on LinkedIn: Elke Porter or contact her on WhatsApp: +1 604 828 8788