Nobody tells you that growing is hard work.

We hear the word “bloom”  and picture flowers, effortlessly showing up bright and on time. But real growth happens in soil that isn’t always soft or ideal. Blooming happens even during seasons when you might not feel ready, or when weeds crowd you out, and bugs test your patience.

I’ve had periods in my life where I didn’t feel like I was growing as a leader. I felt stuck and overlooked, and certain the conditions surrounding me weren’t designed for me to thrive. There were many moments where I allowed that narrative to keep me small. 

Being a leader, though, has helped me see that the place you’re currently at is simply a starting point. 

Some of the best leaders I know didn’t start in the right room. They didn’t always have confidence or access to the right resources. But the important thing for these leaders, and for you, if you wish to be a leader, is that they started. 

They used the resources they had and grew in unexpected and wonderful ways by letting their circumstances work for them rather than waiting for the perfect moment to appear.

Even flowers don’t bloom without effort. They require weeding, pruning, watering, and care, even during fallow seasons, in order to bloom so brilliantly in the warmer weather. As a leader, you’ll want to bloom where you’re planted: Choosing yourself and your purpose, rather than settling for your current moment or waiting for the perfect moment to appear in the future. 

The weeds and bugs of life are part of the process of growing, but they don’t determine your growth; you do. So wherever you’re at in your journey, put roots down, show up fully, and lead from there.