What grit taught me about success

Because the journey isn’t always linear

Hi again,

If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been following along, thank you for coming back.

This is the second edition of my newsletter, and today I want to talk about a word that quietly defined my career: Grit.

It’s not glamorous. It doesn’t trend. But grit is the reason I’m still here—still building, still evolving, still growing.

🧱 What Grit Really Means

For me, grit has always meant showing up with perseverance and passion—especially in pursuit of long-term goals.

People often ask, “How do you develop grit?” In my case, it was shaped by growing up with modest means, learning early that nothing would be handed to me, and carrying that work ethic forward.

Grit became a mindset—earned through effort, strengthened by setbacks, and essential to every chapter of my career.

It’s what carried me through decades of reinvention and recovery, especially during seasons where it felt like I was starting over or navigating systems not built for me to thrive.

My career didn’t hit its stride until my mid-forties. I had my youngest children just before turning 40. I took intentional pauses to be present with them. And returning to the workforce? That took everything.

But that’s the part people often don’t see: The years between the titles. The quiet resilience. The belief you hold onto—even when the world hasn’t caught up to your potential.

My youngest daughter just graduated from college and recently started her first job. After only two weeks, she asked me how long it took me to get promoted—and how she could accelerate to the next role. Let’s just say… the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. 😊

I told her the truth: In my twenties, I didn’t have a clear roadmap. In fact, I made plenty of wrong turns. It was a series of stops and starts, detours, and “what now?” moments. But I kept taking another step forward—and that made all the difference.

Your twenties shouldn’t be about having it all figured out. They should be about learning—about yourself, your strengths, your limits. It’s a time to stretch, explore, build your skills, grow your network, and try things that might not make sense on paper but help shape who you are.

Some of the best decisions I made came from experiments that didn’t go as planned. And some of the most valuable connections came from showing up with curiosity, not certainty.

So if you’re in that season—figuring it out, trying, stumbling, pivoting—take heart. This chapter isn’t about perfection; it’s about becoming.

It’s not failure—it’s growth. And often, the grit you build in the uncertainty becomes the strength that anchors your career later on.

“You don’t have to see the whole path. Just take the next step with courage.”

Keep going. Trust the process. You’re becoming more than you know.

🌍Life Lately

This past month has been soul-filling. I’ve spent time in Zimbabwe , Kenya, and Tanzania—and it reminded me of the clarity that comes when we slow down and step away.

There’s something about standing beneath wide-open skies, watching animals move with purpose and ease, that strips away the noise.

For me, travel isn’t about getting away—it’s about coming back to what grounds me. It’s a return to clarity, to perspective, and to the joy of being present—with nature, with loved ones, and with what truly matters.

Because a meaningful life isn’t just built in boardrooms or defined by titles—it’s shaped in the quiet moments, the deep connections, and the time we choose to spend with the people who matter most.

Thanks for reading. Until next time—keep going. Keep growing. And remember: grit doesn’t always look like power. Sometimes, it just looks like showing up again.

Warmly, Lisa