There are moments in life when we think we have finally reached the top of the mountain, only to realize we are actually standing at the beginning of the climb.

That was one of the things that stood out to me most during my conversation with musician Chan Fuze for The Whitney Reynolds Show.

Our conversation was part of our theme, "Who Was There For You?", and Chan's story is such a powerful reminder that sometimes the person who needs to be there for you most is yourself.

Chan and I talked about his experience on The Voice, where he performed on national television but didn't have the chairs turn around for him. For many people, that could feel like the ultimate rejection. You have made it to one of the biggest stages, you've put yourself out there, and then suddenly, the moment is over.

But Chan didn't let that moment define the rest of his story.

Instead, he began to see it as a starting point.

I loved hearing Chan talk about how, looking back, he doesn't think he was quite ready for everything to take off at that moment. The experience was difficult and devastating, but it ultimately became the push he needed to realize that it was time to go all in on music.

And I think there is something so relatable in that.

We all have moments where we think, This is it. This is my big break. And when it doesn't happen the way we imagined, it's easy to wonder if we should stop. But sometimes, what feels like rejection is actually redirecting us toward the next part of our journey.

For Chan, music had always been a part of his life. He told me that his love for music started when he was just two years old, when he would put on concerts for his parents. He eventually began leading worship with his dad at church, and music became a safe space for him, a place he could return to whenever life got difficult.

But his journey wasn't always a straight line.

At 6'10", Chan naturally stood out from a young age. He grew up playing basketball and had an opportunity to continue that path in college. When he was around 18, his dad sat him down and helped him understand that pursuing music would not be easy. Chan ultimately chose basketball while continuing to study musical theater in college.

It wasn't until after The Voice that something clicked.

He decided it was time to go all in.

I especially loved Chan's perspective on what it means to build a dream. He talked about how you don't just wake up one day and suddenly become the person you envision yourself being. It's a process. You visualize it, you work toward it, and you start chipping away at the pieces.

Then, eventually, the momentum starts to build.

The work begins to come together. The right people enter your life. You start getting little affirmations along the way. And suddenly, you realize you're moving forward.

That idea of "chipping away" really stuck with me because I think that's what so many of us are doing every day. We have a big dream, but we don't always know exactly how we're going to get there. Sometimes, we just have to take the next step.

Chan has also found a unique way to keep music in his everyday life. Through his work with After and the Ever Restaurant Group, he has been able to combine his love of music with his professional life. He shared how meaningful it has been to work alongside Curtis Duffy, who also has a love for music, and to find a space where those passions can come together.

And that's another thing I loved about our conversation: the reminder that your journey doesn't have to look exactly the way you thought it would.

You can take a few different paths and still end up moving toward the same dream.

As Chan looks toward the future, he and his band have big goals. They want to play bigger shows, continue building their music, and keep the dream alive. But they are also focused on what they can do right now, making the best music they can, staying true to their goals, and continuing to move forward.
When I asked Chan what he would say to someone who is trying to root for themselves, his answer came back to confidence, resilience, and fear.

Fear of failure can be incredibly powerful. But Chan doesn't believe fear has to stop us. In fact, he believes a little fear can be good. It's about finding that balance, having the confidence to move forward while allowing a little fear to push you instead of paralyzing you.

I walked away from my conversation with Chan thinking about how often we define ourselves by the moments when things don't work out.

But what if those moments aren't the end?

What if they're the beginning?

Chan Fuze's story is a reminder to keep showing up, keep chipping away, and keep rooting for yourself. The people around us can encourage us, support us, and help us along the way—but sometimes, we have to be the ones who decide we're not done yet.

And sometimes, the rejection that hurts the most can become the very thing that helps us find our way forward.

Watch my full conversation with Chan Fuze on PBS and hear more about his journey, his music, and what it means to keep going when the path doesn't look the way you expected.

Watch the full conversation with Whitney Reynolds and Chan Fuze Below or HERE on PBS.

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