Grace Over Ego: The Gratitude That Got Me Through
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
By Molly McClure
Marketing Executive of the Year (Gold Stevie® Winner)
Marketing is one of those professions people either love — or love to challenge. It’s creative, visible, and often misunderstood, which makes it both rewarding and politically complex. At its best, marketing can transform companies and inspire people. At its worst, it can trigger the insecurities of those who mistake visibility for vanity.
At a past company, I worked alongside a sales leader who reported to the CMO’s peer, while I reported directly to the CMO. On paper, we were equals. In practice, she refused to see it that way. Our relationship began to unravel over something surprisingly small: I selected a photo of her for an internal email that she didn’t find flattering. What should have been a one-time oversight turned into a long, passive-aggressive pattern. She brought it up constantly — always wrapped in humor that carried a sharp edge.
Soon, the tension started to seep into our work. She excluded marketing from recognition events, redirected lead sources in Salesforce to favor sales, and even tried to control how I spent my budget. It wasn’t just petty — it was calculated. I could have stayed quiet, but I didn’t. When her comments crossed the line, I called her out. When she tried to interfere with marketing strategy, I stood my ground. We never got along after that — but I never backed down either.
It was one of those professional seasons that tests everything you know about yourself. You learn what you’re willing to tolerate, and what you’re not. I realized leadership isn’t about control — it’s about composure. You can’t always change how people treat you, but you can choose how you respond.
That’s where gratitude came in. I didn’t use it as blind optimism; I used it as armor. Gratitude became a daily discipline — a conscious effort to stay grounded, focused, and unbothered. I thanked my team often. I celebrated their wins publicly. I stayed laser-focused on performance and impact, even when others got lost in politics.
Over time, that mindset changed everything. It gave me perspective. It reminded me that I didn’t need her approval — I already had results, integrity, and a team that believed in what we were building.
That experience taught me something that’s shaped how I lead today: gratitude and strength can coexist. You can speak up for yourself and still lead with grace. You can hold boundaries and still choose optimism. Gratitude isn’t a soft skill — it’s resilience with heart.
Now, as a marketing executive and mentor, I try to model that balance for others. When someone faces a difficult colleague, I remind them that grace isn’t weakness — it’s self-control. Gratitude isn’t pretending everything is fine — it’s choosing not to let bitterness take root.
The truth is, not every professional chapter ends neatly. Some people will never like you, no matter how fair or kind you are. But gratitude helps you close those chapters with dignity — and that’s what really lasts.
Connect With Molly
Comments