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ISSUE 41

7 MAY 2025 | READ ONLINE​

Hi Reader,

We’re conditioned to think that growth feels good, that clarity arrives in clean lines, and that progress comes with a sense of ease.

But that's not always true.

More often than not, growth feels like discomfort.

Friction. Doubt. Resistance.

And yet, that’s not a sign that something is wrong. It’s often the most accurate signal that something important is happening.

I’ve worked with many leaders. Some were running billion-dollar operations, others rebuilding their paths from scratch, and I’ve seen the same pattern. When you're on the edge of real transformation, it rarely feels like inspiration.

It feels like tension.

Like something is coming undone.

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But I’ve come to believe that discomfort is not a disruption to your growth. It is your growth. The part that doesn’t make it into the highlight reels. The part that shapes you before the results catch up.

When we hit a season where nothing feels clear, it’s tempting to treat it like a problem to fix. But what if that discomfort is the body’s way of telling us we’ve outgrown the current context? The system, the strategy, even the identity we’ve been relying on.

This is especially true if you’re ambitious and used to performing at a high level. You’ve likely developed a strong ability to navigate complexity, deliver results, and hold it together. So when discomfort shows up, it feels like it's undermining your credibility or control.

Here’s the invitation for you.

Stop treating discomfort as a threat and start treating it as data.

That restless tension might be pointing to the gap between what’s working and what’s true. The friction might not be telling you to slow down, but to shift direction. And that unease? It could be your leadership stretching to hold something more aligned, more honest, more powerful.

Try This Framework

If you’re in a season of stretch, here are three questions worth reflecting on:

1. Where do I feel the most discomfort right now?​
   Don’t judge it. Just name it.
2. What story am I telling myself about why that discomfort exists?​
   Is it about failure, rejection, lack of clarity, or evolution?
3. What might this discomfort be trying to prepare me for?​
   Not what it’s taking away but what it’s making space for.

You don’t have to solve everything this week. But noticing what’s surfacing puts you in a position of choice, not just reaction.

Some New Reads That You Might Enjoy

📚 The Messy Middle by Scott Belsky: Growth isn’t linear, and Belsky doesn’t pretend it is. This book is a practical and honest look at the unpredictable, uncomfortable, make-or-break middle of any bold pursuit. If you’re in a stretch season, this one will remind you that the mess is where the magic is. Grab the book here.

📖 The Beauty of Discomfort by Amanda Lang: This insightful book delves into how embracing discomfort can lead to personal and professional growth. Lang combines research and real-life stories to illustrate how stepping outside our comfort zones is essential for innovation and success. Here's a link to the book.

Some LinkedIn Posts

You know I love writing on LinkedIn. Here are some of my most recent posts:

🛑 Understanding that staying quiet isn't neutral, it's a missed opportunity. Read the post here.

🥁 Managing your energy and marching to your own drumbeat. Here's a link to the post from LinkedIn.

Final Thoughts

Growth doesn’t always roar in. Sometimes, it shows up disguised as frustration, awkwardness, or even grief.

But every time I’ve followed that thread, instead of avoiding it, I’ve landed somewhere more aligned, honest, and impactful than I could have planned.

Here’s to the path that stretches us. Because it also strengthens us.

See you next week,

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​Megan