
Yesterday, Steven Binko took to Facebook to share a deeply personal reflection on a recent experience—one that pushed him outside of his comfort zone and left him with unexpected lessons.
A few days ago, Binko had the honor of traveling to Maine for the first time to perform the national anthem at the Maine Mariners vs. Worcester Railers hockey game. It was an exciting opportunity—one that many singers dream of—but despite the excitement, things didn’t go as planned.
“I walked away feeling like I’d failed,” he admitted in his post. “My nerves got the better of me, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I didn’t do my best.”
For any performer, nerves are part of the job, but in moments like these, they can be overwhelming. Binko, who has graced stages across the country, found himself in an unexpected place—doubting himself, replaying every mistake in his head, and questioning why he even took the leap in the first place.
“At first, I wanted to hide,” he shared. “I kept thinking about every little thing I could’ve done differently.”
But instead of letting self-doubt consume him, Binko had a realization: This experience wasn’t about perfection—it was about growth.
“This wasn’t about being perfect—it was about showing up, doing something that scared me, and pushing myself to grow,” he explained.
It was a powerful moment of self-reflection. Because things didn’t go as planned, he gained something far more valuable—a deeper understanding of what it means to take risks, embrace discomfort, and keep going despite setbacks.
“If it had gone perfectly, I probably would’ve sought validation for the wrong reasons,” he admitted. “But because it didn’t, I learned so much more. I learned that failure is part of putting yourself out there. It’s messy, uncomfortable, and humbling—but it’s also where real growth happens.”
Binko has built a reputation for being unapologetically authentic, sharing not just the high points of his career but also the struggles that come with it. He believes that success isn’t measured by never stumbling, but by how one chooses to move forward.
“Life isn’t about never getting knocked down; it’s about how you pick yourself up, learn, and keep going,” he said.
And that’s exactly what he’s doing. Rather than dwelling on the moment, he’s choosing to use it as fuel to keep pushing forward—and he hopes others will do the same.
His message to fans? Take the leap. Do the thing that scares you. It won’t always be perfect, but it will make you stronger.
“Even if it doesn’t go perfectly, you’ll walk away stronger, braver, and more resilient than before,” he encouraged.
As for the performance itself, Binko isn’t letting it define him. In fact, he’s already looking ahead to the future.
“Here’s to hoping one day I get a shot at a redemption performance!” he said, tagging the Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars, Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, and even Good Morning America.
With his relentless drive and passion for growth, there’s little doubt that when that moment comes, he’ll be ready.
