From the beginning, I knew I wanted to hit Director. I made that my end goal and committed to it — not just when things were going well, but especially on the hard days. Even when progress felt slow or invisible, I kept reminding myself where I was headed and why I started.

One of the biggest reasons I kept moving forward was the encouragement and support from the Jordies around me. Being surrounded by people who had already walked the path made all the difference. I listened to their stories, asked questions, took notes, and leaned into everything they had learned. I didn’t try to reinvent the wheel — I learned from those who had gone before me and applied what they shared.

There were moments when quitting would have been easier. Moments when I wondered if what I was doing was enough. But I made a decision early on not to quit on myself. I kept pushing, kept showing up, and kept taking consistent steps forward. Growth doesn’t always happen loudly — often it’s happening quietly before it shows up in a big way.

If you’re working toward your next rank, my biggest encouragement is this: decide first, then stay consistent. You don’t have to be perfect, and you don’t have to have it all figured out. Focus on serving the person in front of you, learning from those around you, and taking action — even when it feels uncomfortable.

Community matters more than you think. On the days when your confidence feels low, borrow belief from others. Let encouragement carry you forward. Stay teachable, stay coachable, and trust the process.

One day, you’ll wake up and just know — the work you’ve been doing has added up. That confidence doesn’t come from luck; it comes from consistency, courage, and choosing not to give up.

So if you’re in the middle of the push right now, keep going. Don’t quit. Your next rank is closer than you think.