Be Patient With Yourself: Growth Takes Time

October 2, 2024

Be Patient With Yourself: Growth Takes Time

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to feel pressured to achieve instant success. As leaders and educators, we often place high expectations on ourselves and want to see immediate results, whether it’s in our professional development, leadership effectiveness, or the impact we’re making on our institutions. But true growth—personal, professional, and organizational—doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, patience, and a willingness to embrace the journey.

One Thought to Consider

It’s easy to look at the accomplishments of others and assume that they’ve always been successful. We see the polished presentations, thriving teams, and transformative school cultures and think they must have happened effortlessly. But what we don’t see are the countless hours of preparation, the setbacks, the moments of doubt, and the small, incremental steps that paved the way. This is the reality of growth: it’s often invisible and rarely linear.

For educational leaders, patience is essential. Whether you’re working to build a stronger team, implement new initiatives, or enhance your own leadership skills, the process requires perseverance and grace. It’s about allowing yourself to make mistakes, celebrating small wins, and understanding that setbacks are part of the path to progress.

Two Strategies to Try

Rethink What Progress Looks Like
Leaders who excel at fostering growth in others sometimes struggle with giving themselves the same grace. We encourage our teams and students to take risks, be resilient, and embrace a growth mindset. But when it comes to our own journeys, we often fall into the trap of self-criticism and impatience. Instead of focusing solely on the end goal, ask yourself:
What small wins can I celebrate today?
What did I learn from this experience?
How am I showing up differently than I did last month or last year?

By shifting your focus to growth over time, you’ll begin to see how each small step is contributing to a larger transformation. Remember, the most impactful leaders are not those who rush to the top but those who understand the value of the climb.

Practice Grace Daily
Giving yourself grace means extending the same kindness and understanding to yourself that you would offer to others. It means acknowledging that you are a work in progress and that perfection is neither attainable nor necessary. Grace allows you to let go of unrealistic expectations, quiet the inner critic, and embrace the beauty of becoming rather than simply being.
Practical ways to practice grace:
Set realistic goals: Break down larger goals into smaller, more manageable milestones. Celebrate each milestone as a victory.
Embrace reflection: Take time to reflect on your progress weekly. Journaling can help you track growth and recognize areas where you’ve made strides.
Prioritize self-care: Growth can be exhausting. Make time for rest, rejuvenation, and activities that nourish your well-being.

One Question

Reflect on your current leadership journey: In what areas of your life or work are you expecting immediate results, and how might shifting your focus to the process instead of the outcome help you find more peace and fulfillment?

Action Item

Over the next week, choose one area where you tend to be hard on yourself. Commit to practicing patience and grace in that specific area. Whenever you notice negative self-talk or a sense of urgency, pause and remind yourself: “Growth takes time. I am a work in progress.”

Final Thoughts

When we show up each day with patience, grace, and a willingness to learn, we inspire others to do the same. As an educational leader, your influence extends far beyond the walls of your institution. By embracing your own growth journey, you become a beacon for others, showing them that true leadership is not about achieving perfection but about the continuous, courageous pursuit of becoming our best selves.

So, give yourself the grace to grow slowly. Trust the process. And remember that every step forward, no matter how small, is still progress.

You’re not just leading change—you’re living it.

Until we meet again: Be a Leader. Be a Learner. Be Kind.

- Dr. Roy Bishop, Jr.

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Success Means Nothing If You Miss What Matters Most

By Roy Bishop • July 21, 2025

Hey Good People— Let me tell you what shook me awake last week. We were on vacation. A real one. Not a “half-working, still-checking-emails” kind of trip—but one where I stepped away for real. And as much as I wanted the rest, I wrestled with it. Would things fall apart while I was gone? Would I come back to a mess? Would people think I was slacking off? Those thoughts followed me right up until the moment I let them go. Because what I found in the stillness wasn’t weakness. It was wisdom. The Truth That Hit Me Hard I wasn’t falling behind. I was finally catching up—to myself, to my family, to what actually matters. Here’s What That Break Taught Me 1. Rest isn’t a reward—it’s required. We talk a lot about being driven. But when you’re always on, always solving, always showing up… you forget what clarity feels like. Rest gave me back creativity. Focus. Peace. It wasn’t time off. It was time on purpose. 2. Good leadership means you’re not the only one holding it all together. The fear of stepping away comes from the belief that everything relies on us. But true leadership? It’s building a team and culture that thrives whether you’re in the room or not. I didn’t just trust my team—I needed to trust them. And they showed me I could. 3. Moments > Minutes I didn’t track time. I tracked moments: Laughing with my kids. Listening to my wife. Sitting still—no agenda, no title, no hurry. And Then This Hit Me… I’ve been married almost 20 years. In less than 7, we’ll be empty nesters. And I sat with that. Really sat with it. Because for years, I’ve been building, grinding, leading. But those milestones reminded me—the most meaningful parts of life aren’t achievements… they’re moments. The kind that don’t show up on a resume. The kind that don’t trend. The kind you don’t get back. So Let Me Ask You… What are you rushing past right now? What are you chasing that might cost you more than it’s worth? And when you look back years from now—what do you want to remember: The meeting… or the moment? Leadership That Lasts Starts at Home This isn’t a message to work less. It’s a message to live more. To lead not just projects—but your presence. To stop confusing busyness with purpose. To start building a life that your loved ones are actually in, not just around. Try This: Take five minutes today. Write down: One person you’ve been too busy to fully see. One moment you keep saying “maybe later” to. One way you can be fully present this week. Now—do something about it. Final Word Your legacy isn’t built in the boardroom. It’s built at the dinner table. On the porch. In the quiet conversations when you’re fully there. Success means nothing if you miss what matters most. So take the break. Have the conversation. Be where your feet are. Until next time— Be a Leader. Be a Learner. Be Kind. —Dr. Roy Bishop, Jr. Dr. Roy Bishop, Jr. is the founder of The Be Team—a movement rooted in the belief that leadership starts with mindset, not just metrics. Through coaching, training, and real-talk reflection, he helps leaders step up without burning out. Because titles fade—but presence and purpose leave a legacy.

Rest is not a Reward!!

By Roy Bishop • May 4, 2025

Rest isn’t a break from leadership. It’s part of the many things that make it up. Recharge, realign, and reset. Tomorrow depends on what you give yourself today. #jointhebeteam #SoulCheckSunday #TheBeTeam #RestToLead

Quiet Doesn't Mean Weak!

By Roy Bishop • May 3, 2025

Quiet Doesn’t Mean Weak 1 Truth · 2 Strategies · 1 Reflection Weekly Leadership Spark with Dr. Roy Bishop, Jr. We live in a world that often rewards volume over value, noise over nuance. But leadership isn’t always about being the loudest voice in the room—it’s about having the clarity to lead when no one’s watching and the courage to move even without applause. Quiet leadership isn’t a flaw. It’s a force. And once you learn to embrace that, you’ll stop shrinking and start standing in your strength. 1 Truth Quiet doesn’t mean weak. It means focused. It means grounded. It means leading with clarity, not noise. Some of the most powerful leaders don’t need a spotlight to make an impact—they lead from within, with quiet strength and confident purpose. 2 Strategies to Live It Out Reconnect with your Why. When you’re rooted in your purpose, you stop waiting for the “right” moment—you create it. Lead from within. You don’t need a title or a crowd to lead. Your daily habits, your energy, and your decisions define your leadership. 1 Reflection Question Where have you been shrinking, waiting, or hesitating to fully show up? Don’t wait for perfect. Show up today—as you are. That’s where growth begins. Bonus Action (Optional): Take 5 minutes. Write down 3 things you’ve been putting off because you didn’t feel ready. Choose one—and take the first step this week. Final Thoughts You don’t have to be loud to be powerful. You don’t have to be perfect to lead. You just have to show up with quiet strength and a willingness to grow. Until next time: Be a Leader. Be a Learner. Be Kind. Let’s keep leading together. — Dr. Roy Bishop, Jr. Want more weekly leadership sparks like this? Join The Be Team today to continue to receive our weekly leadership sparks—quick, clear, and designed for busy leaders who want to grow with purpose. Who is Dr. Roy Bishop, Jr.? Dr. Roy Bishop, Jr. is more than a leader—he’s a mentor, strategist, and visionary committed to helping others step into their full leadership potential. With a proven track record in education, leadership development, and systems transformation, Dr. Bishop empowers leaders to take imperfect action and lead from within. At the heart of his work is The Be Team—a movement that redefines leadership for every generation. Whether you’re a student, educator, executive, or emerging leader, The Be Team exists to help you grow from the inside out. Why The Be Team? Because leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about mindset, ownership, and courage. The Be Team is here to remind you: You already have what it takes. Now it’s time to lead like it.

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Be Patient With Yourself: Growth Takes Time