The Real Power of Doing New Things
Why doing something new is the only way we really learn
Today marks an exciting time for Growing Grit.
I’ve been thinking a lot about new things—and why they matter so much.
One of the most common conversations I have with my kids is about trying something unfamiliar. Whether it’s a new class, a new sport, or just introducing themselves to someone new, that first step always comes with fear and anxiety. And if I’m honest, it’s not just them—I still feel it too.
But here’s what I’ve learned, over and over:
When I step into something new, it always pays off.
In 2022, I decided to share my story publicly on LinkedIn. I didn’t know how it would go, but I showed up daily for a year, just to build a writing habit and find my voice. That season helped me 10x my audience—and more importantly, gave me clarity on what I wanted to say.
In 2023, I launched this very newsletter—Growing Grit—with hardly an audience. I didn’t have it all figured out, but I started. I wrote semi-weekly, finding out through trial and error who I was writing to and why it mattered.
At the start of 2024, I hit pause for a bit. But we’re back now. Still not as consistent as I want to be—but moving forward. And doing something new again.
Today, I want to let you know we’re making a shift: Growing Grit is moving to Substack.
I’ve been happy with the platform I used before, but it’s time to try something different. It may be temporary, or it may be the new long-term home. Either way, it’s another reminder to myself—and to you—that doing something new isn’t just how we grow grit. It’s how we grow.
So this week, whether it’s something at work, something with your kids, or something you’ve put off because it feels uncomfortable—I want to challenge you:
Don’t just do hard things. Do new things.
Even if it’s awkward.
Even if it’s messy.
Even if you don’t have it all figured out.
Because the truth is, you never really will. And that’s okay.
We learn by doing.
We grow by starting.
And we get stronger—not in theory, but in motion.
So here’s to whatever your new thing is this season.
You’ve got more in you than you think.
Let’s keep growing grit—together.