Staying Committed to Growth, No Matter the Challenges

Dear Reader,

What do you do when personal challenges come up?

For me, it’s meant stripping away things that matter less, putting some projects on hold, and even stopping a few altogether.

But one thing I’m not stopping is this newsletter.

Sharing something valuable each week has become part of my routine, a way to stay committed to my own growth and to connect, even when life gets busy.

Storytime - From Beginner to “Expert”

When I first started as a corporate trainer, I was responsible for teaching teachers how to use a reading program.

I was far from a master trainer back then.

Each session, I learned a little more, figuring out what worked and what didn’t.

After a few months, I noticed a big difference in my confidence and skills.

I had gone from feeling like a beginner to finally becoming comfortable in my role.

One day, after wrapping up a training session, I felt especially proud of how far I had come.

That’s when my boss approached me, saying he had just received an irate email from a participant.

Curious, I took a look at the email, only to realize it was from a principal who had attended one of my first sessions.

Her teachers had struggled with the program after that initial training, so she scheduled another session without my knowing, hoping this time they’d get training from an expert.

She was upset, demanding a refund or a retraining with the “expert trainer” who had just conducted the session.

At first, I was caught off guard, but then the irony hit me, it was me she was calling the “expert trainer.”

I couldn’t help but laugh as I explained this to my boss.

The principal had no idea that I was the same person who led that initial training.

The only difference was time, practice, and the commitment to keep showing up and improving.

That experience taught me an important lesson: mastery doesn’t come overnight.

Sometimes things don’t work out as you hope, but that’s not a reason to stop.

You have to keep working on your craft.

A master has failed more times than a beginner has even tried, and it’s through those moments of struggle that real growth happens.

Whether it’s training, storytelling, or even sending out this newsletter each week, my goal is to keep showing up, learning, and improving over time.

Looking Ahead

As you think about your own journey, what’s one skill you want to keep improving, no matter the setbacks?

This week, take a moment to reflect on how far you’ve come and consider what small steps you can take to keep moving forward.

Feel free to reply and share your goals with me. I’d love to hear about what you’re working on and what keeps you committed.

Until next time,

~Rico