There is no polish without grit. It’s a common refrain of mine to mindfully look upon both the mirror finish and the sandpaper that yielded it. (My husband is a professional fine woodworker, so the metaphor is apt in our household.) In leadership development, it means that the raw rub of adversity refines our capabilities, if we choose to pause and reflect. On the threshold of 2021, I invite you to consider three timespans to begin making sense of your leadership experience.