Crystal Lundberg has launched the Build Forward Pledge, a personal commitment designed to encourage individuals to take ownership of their growth through small, consistent actions rather than waiting for the perfect moment to make a change. The pledge, announced July 14, 2026, draws on Lundberg's own journey of overcoming childhood adversity, pursuing higher education, and building a career in business management and marketing.
Lundberg defines success as "growth, resilience, and the ability to create a meaningful life despite adversity," emphasizing that success is measured not only by accomplishments or financial stability but by the person one becomes throughout the journey. She believes that meaningful progress often begins with simple daily habits and that consistency is more important than perfection.
The launch comes amid research highlighting the importance of personal growth and resilience. According to Gallup, low employee engagement costs the global economy $8.9 trillion annually, about 9% of global GDP. The American Psychological Association reports that 77% of adults say stress affects their physical health, and 73% say it affects their mental health. Additionally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics consistently finds that workers with higher education levels experience lower unemployment rates and higher median earnings. LinkedIn's Workplace Learning Report continues to show that opportunities to learn and develop new skills are among the top factors employees value for career growth and retention.
The Build Forward Pledge includes seven specific behaviors: spending at least 20 minutes daily learning something new; breaking every major goal into small weekly action steps; choosing consistency over perfection; encouraging at least one person each week; reflecting on progress weekly; continuing to invest in education and professional development; and remembering that the past does not define one's future.
Lundberg also provides a do-it-yourself toolkit with steps such as writing down a long-term goal, breaking it into five smaller action steps, creating a daily checklist, reading 10 pages of a book each day, learning a new skill using free online resources, organizing an area of home or workspace, writing three accomplishments each evening, reaching out to someone who offered encouragement, encouraging someone struggling, and reviewing progress every Sunday.
A 30-day progress tracker guides users through weekly tasks: Week 1 involves writing a long-term goal and completing one small action daily; Week 2 focuses on continuing daily learning, organizing a system, and encouraging someone; Week 3 includes reviewing habits and adjusting goals; and Week 4 involves completing a final review, writing three lessons learned, and setting a new goal for the next 30 days.
Lundberg believes personal growth becomes meaningful when shared. "My biggest motivation has always been the desire to create a life that is peaceful, successful, stable, and meaningful—not only for myself but for the people I care about," she said. The pledge is inspired by her philosophy that "growth often happens during uncomfortable seasons, and perseverance is what creates transformation."
For business leaders, the Build Forward Pledge offers a framework to address employee engagement and stress by promoting continuous learning and small, consistent actions. The free toolkit and 30-day tracker provide practical resources that organizations could adapt to support workforce development and resilience.
