At Zapier, employees use "growth workbooks" to track their career progress and celebrate milestones, but the author struggled to find examples of demonstrating job competencies after taking a parental leave, feeling like they weren't making progress. However, with the help of their manager, they were able to recognize their strengths and small wins, change their perspective on what growth means, get involved in various projects, remember that they have support, and not be too hard on themselves. By doing so, they learned valuable personal growth lessons that can be applied to others, such as recognizing the importance of acknowledging small wins, changing one's perspective on career growth, trying new projects, seeking support, and being kind to oneself.