Cultivation Over Construction
Real leaders don’t just build... they cultivate
Everyone wants to build something great.
A business. A ministry. A movement.
But what most people call building... is actually cultivation.
You’re not just stacking bricks or hiring talent.
You’re shaping soil. You’re forming people. You’re earning trust.
And that’s the work no one celebrates.
The work beneath the surface.
The work that makes everything else possible.
When we moved into our neighborhood, there was a massive sign across the street:
“New Homes Coming Soon.”
We were excited… imagining families, laughter, and a growing community.
But for nearly four years... nothing but dirt.
Bulldozers. Pipes. Concrete forms.
They weren’t building homes yet.
They were preparing the ground.
And it hit me: the real work wasn’t happening above the surface...
It was happening beneath it.
That’s leadership.
That’s entrepreneurship.
That’s ministry.
The work that looks slow is often the most sacred.
Because you’re not just breaking ground… you’re preparing it.
People want to move fast.
Launch the thing. Scale the vision. See results.
But real leaders understand the dirt work comes first.
The unseen hours. The conversations. The character-building.
The wrestling with values, systems, and people.
It’s not glamorous... but it’s essential.
The invisible seasons are where your foundation forms its strength.
They’re where integrity is built.
They’re where the roots go deep enough to hold the weight that’s coming next.
So whether you’re leading a team, planting a church, or scaling a business...
don’t rush the dirt.
Grab a shovel, leader.
Do the groundwork.
Shape the soil.
Love the process.
Because what grows out of it will be stronger than anything built on a shortcut.
Anyone can build fast.
Few cultivate well.
And those who do... leave legacies that outlive them.
Amazing insight Chris
Progress is slow and only the patient will see it