A Letter to Myself (and Maybe to You Too)

Hey friends, and welcome back to The Coffee Journeys Show. It’s hard to believe it, but this is our final episode of Season 3.

I’m honestly just sitting here with a cup of coffee, reflecting. This season has been… full. Of growth, stories, small wins, and a few messy lessons. And I thought–for this last episode–I’d do something special.

No frameworks today. No lists. And, no productivity hacks.

Just a letter. A letter to my younger self, from the first year I stepped into leadership. That moment where everything changes–not just your title, but how you think, how you lead, and how you relate to others. If you’ve ever had one of those “what have I just signed up for?” moments, you’ll know exactly what I mean.

So if you’re listening while out on a walk, making your morning coffee, or maybe on your commute–let’s just treat this like a conversation between two friends. Ready?

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💌 A Letter to Myself

Dear younger me,

So you’ve just been promoted. You’re excited. Terrified. You think you know what this job is going to be–and let me stop you right there. You don’t. And that’s okay. That’s the job.

You think your value still comes from your technical skills. From being the go-to expert. From knowing the answers. But here’s the truth: your new job is about helping others grow. It’s about asking good questions, not always having the perfect answers. And yes–it’s about letting go of that expert hat that got you here. You have new things to learn.

Early in your career, others invest in your development. You get reviews, training, and growth opportunities. But when you become a leader, that structure often disappears. Ask yourself: “How is my unwillingness to grow holding my organization back?” Humans naturally drift toward comfort, but great leaders fight against this. They purposely put themselves in uncomfortable situations to keep learning.

You’re going to spend a lot more time in meetings. Fewer commits. More conversations. Fewer wins you can point to. But your fingerprints will be everywhere–in the success of your team, in how they grow, and in the culture you create together. And that… that matters more than you think.

As a leader, it’s hard to measure your daily impact. You can’t always point to something and say, “Today, I led well.” But here’s the truth: leaders are judged by perception, not reality. That’s why great leaders pay attention to seemingly small things like:

• How they interact with people
• Following through on what they promise
• Communicating clearly
• Staying organized

You should understand that these little things add up to create big value in how others see you now as a leader.

Oh, and you’re going to make mistakes. Sometimes you’ll say the wrong thing. Other times you’ll freeze in a meeting. Sometimes you’ll doubt if you’re really cut out for this. But here’s the good news: everyone does. It’s part of the journey. The key is not pretending to be perfect–it’s staying curious, open, and human.

And please–for the love of espresso–ask for help. Get a mentor. Talk to peers. You’re not expected to do this alone.

Also–don’t forget to celebrate the small wins. Like when a teammate comes to you with a hard problem and says, “I knew you’d understand.” Or when someone you coached gets promoted. Or when the team starts supporting each other without you needing to step in. That’s leadership.

And remember: you’re not just building a team. You’re building trust, culture, and sometimes, even lifelong friendships.

Love,
Future You

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🙏 That The Wrap

So that’s it. My little time capsule from the early days. If you’re stepping into leadership now, or if you’ve been in it for years, I hope this letter reminded you that we all start somewhere, and none of us have it all figured out.

This season has been full of stories like this–from high-agency teams, to redefining leadership at home, to how to survive your first 90 days. If you missed any of those episodes, I really recommend circling back. Especially the one called “The First 90 Days — Leadership Framework for Success.” It’s packed with lessons I wish I had at the beginning.

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🐣 Looking Ahead + Easter Break

Now… a quick programming note: I’ll be taking a short Easter break to rest, reflect, and do a bit of planning for Season 4.

But don’t worry–I’ll still be hanging out on LinkedIn and X/Twitter. So if you want to say hi or let me know what resonated with you this season, I’d love to hear from you.

And if you found this show helpful, the best way to say thanks is to share it with a friend, or leave a quick rating or review. It means a lot.

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☕️ Lessons Learned From This Coffee Journey

Leadership isn’t a title. It’s a journey.
It’s not about having all the answers–it’s about creating space for growth.
And sometimes, the most important thing you can do as a leader… is just show up with a full cup, ready to listen.

Thank you for being here.
Thank you for showing up.
Finally, thank you for making Season 3 such a joy.

See you after Easter.

Stay curious. Stay kind. And keep sipping.