Carving Her Path: 2025 Wrapped

What I learned by showing up every week

The path reveals itself as you walk it.

I didn’t plan on doing a year-end “wrapped” post.

But as the year winds down, I found myself reflecting. Not just on what I did this year, but on what I committed to. And one commitment stands out: I said yes to writing. Publicly. Consistently. Even when it felt uncomfortable.

So here it is: Carving Her Path, 2025 Wrapped.
Not a full year. Only four months. And somehow… a lot happened.

---

📅 When It Started

I launched Carving Her Path in September.

At the time, it felt like standing at the edge of something without knowing how deep the water was. I had ideas. Lessons. A point of view shaped by years in tech leadership, coaching, parenting, and navigating transitions.

What I didn’t have was certainty.

Would anyone read it?
Would I run out of things to say?
Would I regret putting my thinking out there?

I dove in anyway.

---

✍️ The Commitment

I made myself one promise:
Write and publish every week.

No perfect drafts.
No waiting until it felt “ready.”
No disappearing when life got busy.

Just show up.

Some weeks, the words flowed easily. Other weeks, I wrote between meetings, late at night, from a hotel room, or with a knot in my stomach wondering if this one would land.

But I kept going.

From an empty calendar and a lot of uncertainty —> to showing up every week.

---

📊 What Happened

In four months:

• Weekly posts, published consistently

• ~250 subscribers and growing

• Conversations that extended beyond comments - DMs, emails, coffee chats

• Posts forwarded to colleagues, friends and “someone who needed this”

But the numbers tell only part of the story.

---

💬 What Meant the Most

The messages that started with:

• “This felt like you were writing directly to me.”

• “I’ve been struggling with this and didn’t have words for it.”

• “I forwarded this to a friend because it said what I couldn’t.”

That’s when I knew this wasn’t just content.

It was connection.

---

🌱 What This Year Taught Me

This short season reinforced a few truths I already knew, but needed to live again:

Consistency builds confidence.
Not talent. Not perfection. Just showing up.

You don’t need the full map.
Clarity follows action.

Sharing your thinking is leadership.
Especially when it’s honest and human.

The path reveals itself as you walk it.
Even, maybe especially when, it’s uncertain.

---

🧭 Looking Ahead to 2026

I’m committing to continuing Carving Her Path into 2026.

More writing.
More reflection.
More conversations about leadership, growth, self-belief, transitions, and the quiet courage it takes to choose yourself. To define, honor and carve your path.

Not louder.
Not flashier.
Just deeper.

Does this scare me? Absolutely. Do I still feel like an imposter? All the time. But I’m showing up anyway. Carving my path.

---

❤️ A Thank You

If you’ve been here since the beginning — thank you.
If you joined last week — welcome.
If you’ve ever hit “like,” replied, shared a post, or simply read quietly — I see you.

This has become something meaningful because of you. You showed up, and that made all the difference.

We’re carving our paths together.

---

What about you?

What are you committing to in 2026? What path are you carving? I’d love to hear in the comments.

And if this post resonated with you, would you share it with someone who’s defining their own next chapter? Forward it to a colleague, restack it on Substack Notes, or share it on LinkedIn.

Thanks for being part of this journey. Let’s keep carving our paths together.

---

I’m Tracy Stone, a leadership coach who helps leaders invest in themselves and carve paths that are authentically theirs. If you’re ready to stop carrying everything alone and create what matters most to you in 2026, I’d love to support you.

Until then, keep carving your path. I’ll be right here doing the same.