Today’s Win: I showed up anyway

Changing my career strategy wasn't on my vision board for 2026. 

For more than 20 years, I steadily built a career in marketing and communications in one of the largest media markets in the U.S. I had a solid plan. Build, grow, and retire early. And everything seemed to be moving according to that plan. 

Then, in the summer of last year, all that changed. 

Now, I'm building something new. I don't consider it starting over. I'm starting from experience, and honestly I never could have done this 10 or 15 years ago because every role, project, challenge, and lesson along the way prepared me for this season.

But I must confess. It’s hard. And some days, I just want to stick my head under my pillow and pretend the challenges aren't there. 

Because my work keeps me online, I have a front-row seat to everyone's filtered lives. The promotions, the revenue milestones, the awards, the new client announcements. The big wins. Those moments are worth celebrating. But they're not everyday moments. Most of life happens in the quiet spaces between the milestones.  

The difficult conversations with clients, taking a leap of faith and starting something before you feel ready, trying again after disappointment. And yes, showing up even when you don't feel like it. 

These are hard things that may not garner a bunch of likes, shares, or comments. But they are worthy of encouragement. Character is built in the moments most people never see. And resilience is formed when you remain persistent and push forward even in the midst of a dry spell. Because hard work does truly pay off. We just have to be patient.

So today, I'm celebrating patience and persistence. And I'm learning to appreciate the messy middle for what it is: proof that my story is still being written. And Friend, so is yours. 

What's a quiet win you're proud of this year?