The Progress You Haven’t Given Yourself Credit For

Before most people have their first cup of coffee, every jobsite has a moment only leaders fully understand.

It’s that early-morning walk-through—quiet, unhurried, often unnoticed.

You’re scanning the site.

Observing.

Taking stock.

And if someone else walked with you, they might say, “It doesn’t look like much changed yesterday.”

But you know better.

A conduit was laid.

A section was leveled.

A detail was corrected.

A problem was solved before it became a problem.

It doesn’t look dramatic.

It doesn’t look “finished.”

It rarely feels worth mentioning.

But it’s progress—quiet, steady, essential progress—the kind that makes the finished work possible.

This week, as we move into Thanksgiving, I want to invite you to take that same kind of walk-through… with your own year.

Because here’s the truth:

The most meaningful growth you experienced this year didn’t come with applause.

It came through decisions you made when no one was watching.

It came through courage you didn’t realize you were showing.

It came through resilience you built one small moment at a time.

That’s the thing about growth:

We live it in real time, so we rarely recognize it as it’s happening.

You’ve been busy solving problems.

Carrying responsibility.

Leading through ambiguity.

Showing up for others even when no one fully saw the weight you carried.

Thanksgiving gives us a chance to see what we usually overlook.

Not with pressure.

Not with perfection.

Not with judgment.

But with gratitude.

Gratitude reconnects you to your purpose, your people, and your strength.

It slows your pace long enough for you to see what’s actually taking shape.

And it tells the truth:

You’ve grown more than you realized.

You’ve led more bravely than you remember.

You’ve become more grounded, more capable, more clear than you give yourself credit for.

This year wasn’t perfect—of course it wasn’t.

But perfection was never the requirement.

Progress was.

And you made it.

Your 5-Minute Thanksgiving Leadership Practice

Before the holiday rush takes over, I want to invite you to pause—just like that early-morning walk on the jobsite—and ask yourself:

What are three ways I grew this year?

Not “three achievements.”

Not “three wins.”

Not “three things other people would celebrate.”

But three ways you grew.

Strength you built.

Boundaries you honored.

Courage you found.

Clarity you fought for.

Confidence you stepped into.

Write them down.

See them on paper.

Honor them.

Because growth that is acknowledged becomes growth that continues.

And you deserve to feel proud of the leader you are becoming.

That’s what I’m grateful for this Thanksgiving—women like you who are building businesses, families, careers, and futures with resilience, integrity, and purpose.

You are the quiet progress that becomes the finished work.

You’re further than you think.

And you’re just getting started.

With gratitude and deep respect,

Sonja

P.S. If you want to share one of the ways you grew this year, I would truly love to hear it. Hit reply—I read every message