Hey, lovely people! Today, let’s talk about PROGRESS—that quiet, invisible miracle that sneaks up on you without any fanfare. I mean, if it had a theme song, it’d probably be a soft, classical tune rather than a party anthem. You don’t always notice it at the time, but it’s always there, working its magic while you’re too busy dealing with life.
The Teacher Days (Chocolate and Gin Required)
Back in my teaching days, every September brought the same mix of excitement and absolute panic. I’d meet a fresh new class, ready to dive in, and then it would hit me: These kids are so far from where they need to be by next year. The internal freak-out would commence, and there I’d be, clutching my secret stash of chocolate and maybe some gin (for after-hours only, promise!). The reality of that year’s journey—complete with marking marathons and after-school pep talks with fellow teachers—was daunting. But by the end of the year, those kids always pulled through, and we’d have the best time looking back at their work. It was incredible to see how much they’d grown. And then, come next September, the whole cycle would start again, complete with the same jitters and chocolate stockpile!
TikTok Trials and Tiny Triumphs
Fast forward to today, and I’m having a bit of déjà vu with my TikTok journey. You might have heard creators talk about growing their accounts from zero to 100k followers in two months. Well, not me! I’ve been posting for a lot longer than two months and still haven’t cracked 2k followers. It’s easy to feel a bit deflated and wonder if all the time and effort is worth it. But then I took a moment to look back at my own progress….
Twelve months ago, you wouldn’t have caught me on camera. Seriously, I wouldn’t even post a photo of myself! Now I’m posting video content consistently, which was a huge leap. And it turns out that little-by-little courage has paid off—I’ve joined TikTok Affiliate, earning a bit of passive income, and just last week, my mentor, Dean, actually reached out to chat with me about what I’ve learned on TikTok. I mean, Dean has all the contacts he could need, so I can’t imagine I’ll offer anything groundbreaking. But the fact that he sees enough value in what I’m doing to ask? That’s progress, and I’m proud of it! Check out my TikTok page HERE. I’d love to hear form you.
When you are working on a project its very hard to see the small wins. Everyday I work on trying to build my online business, juggling the family home and having a positive impact in my 9-5. It’s only when you look back and start to write down what you have achieved you realise that you are doing a good job. This time last year, I was learning how to set up my business. Now, I’ve been writing blogs for a year, started a TikTok account, gained nearly 2,000 followers, learnt how to publish a Facebook Lead ad, earned enough money for 1 ticket to NYC AND published my first digital product that has already supported people to make money online! You can check it out HERE
I wonder what my life will look like this time NEXT year??
Ernie’s Little Nudge
Now, let’s talk about the real magic behind this epiphany—my friend Ernie. He’s on the same “making money online” journey as me, and honestly, everyone needs an Ernie in their life. He’s one of those people who could make a rainy day feel like a sunbeam, always has something spot-on to say, and his blogs? Absolutely brilliant. Ernie has this amazing ability to connect affiliate marketing to everyday life in a way that’s both profound and lighthearted. And here’s the best part—his blogs always end with something that’ll make you grin. (I won’t spoil it, but I highly recommend checking him out by clicking HERE!)
Recently, Ernie nudged me to look back at my first blog. And when I did, it was… let’s just say, a little rough around the edges. But that’s the beauty of progress. It’s like this silent force in the background, helping us grow and learn without us even realizing it. And when we pause, it’s like, Whoa, I did all that?!
Give Yourself a Five-Minute High Five
Whether you’re teaching, hustling online, or learning something new, don’t be too hard on yourself. Progress can be slow, and that’s okay. I challenge you to take five minutes to look back at where you started, whether it’s an old project, an early social media post, or something else you’ve built up over time. I promise you, you’ll see just how far you’ve come. And if you ever need a reminder, find yourself an Ernie or a trusted friend—they’ll be the first to remind you of the silent magic of progress.
Take Care
Hi Sarah,
I just wanted to say how amazing it is to see your journey and progress unfold. It’s inspiring to hear how far you’ve come in just a year, from stepping out of your comfort zone on TikTok to launching your first digital product that’s helping others. Your hard work and determination truly shine through! Keep celebrating those small wins, and I can’t wait to see what you accomplish next. You’re doing a fantastic job!
Meredith
Meredith Moore recently posted…Overcoming Overwhelm in Business: One Step at a Time
Sarah,
I love your journey. My wife is in fact a retired school teacher, and I remember the nervousness she had each Fall. AS for me and TT I have had a love hate relationship. In fact I completely gave it up for about a year, but am now back at it. My favorite platform is actually YouTube and it is much harder to earn views on. Your post and TT video show your real life and how to juggle everything. Nice job
Sarah! I am beyond honored and humbled in the way that you referenced me in this latest blog post! It really should be the other way around as your posts on this blog and TikTok are truly inspiring. The thing that I take from your posts is offering value and the greatest value that you offer is kindness. Kindness goes a long way and will pay off in the long run as people will see that you are genuine, and people want to partner with people who are genuine. That is probably why I have gravitated toward following you on your journey. Progress can be measured. And if we look at how it is measured, we get a clear understanding of how far we have come and really how far we have to go. Measuring progress is a good standard for all of us. Measuring progress includes understanding areas where we fell short and celebrating the wins of where we succeeded. This incredible post is a reminder that everyone needs a Sarah in their life to build others up and to cheer others on. Again, thank you for your wonderful comments and I look forward to continuing following your journey as you progress to your trip in New York City with your family and whatever comes after. You truly do deserve the best and that is my wish for you!
Great analogies on progress. A good reminder to stop and reflect on how far each of us has come in our journeys. Like you say, it takes courage to take leap into something new- keep leading the way!
I love how you encourage “the big picture” in this post, the retrospective long view of where we were and where we are now. All areas of our lives require this inventory. As this year ends and another begins, the New Year Resolutions start popping. In reality, the end of one year and the beginning of the next, is a mirage. But we believe in it just the same. It brings hope for things to come.