The Difference Between Wanting Growth and Being Ready for It
Have you ever wished for something—a big break, a promotion, more customers, a new opportunity—but when it finally came, you weren’t quite ready for it?
Maybe you got the chance to lead a big project, but you realized too late that you hadn’t built the skills to handle it. Maybe your business had a sudden surge in demand, but you didn’t have the systems in place to keep up, and what should have been exciting felt overwhelming instead.
Or maybe you’re still waiting for your big opportunity, wondering why it hasn’t arrived yet.
What if the opportunity hasn’t come because you’re not ready for it?
I don’t say that to discourage you, but to challenge you. Many people want growth, but not everyone prepares for it. And the truth is:
Growth requires preparation.
You Don’t Grow When You Arrive—You Arrive Because You Grew
We’ve been told to “dream big” and “go after what we want.” But here’s the missing piece:
Growth isn’t about getting more—it’s about becoming more.
If you don’t expand your capacity, your thinking, and your habits, then when the opportunity arrives, it won’t feel like a blessing. It’ll feel like a burden.
Think about it.
A business owner who dreams of doubling their revenue but doesn’t build systems to handle more customers will get crushed by the demand.
An employee who wants a leadership role but avoids tough conversations will struggle the moment they’re asked to manage a team.
A person who wants financial freedom but never learns to manage money will lose it just as quickly as they get it.
The mistake most people make?
Waiting until the opportunity arrives to start preparing. By then, it’s too late.
How Growth Finds You
There’s a story about an athlete who was asked,
“How did you get so lucky to win the championship?”
He smiled and said,
“I practiced every day for five years, and then one day, luck found me.”
That’s how growth works. It doesn’t come because you want it. It comes because you’ve put in the work to be ready for it.
The same principle applies to one of the greatest turnaround stories in history—Joseph’s journey from prison to power.
Joseph: Growth Requires Preparation, Not Just Potential
Joseph had a dream of leadership at a young age, but he wasn’t ready for it. He saw himself ruling, yet he had no experience in leading, managing, or handling responsibility.
His journey wasn’t just about hardship—it was a training ground for his future role. Three key seasons prepared him:
In Potiphar’s house, he learned how to manage resources, handle authority, and build trust—skills he’d later use on a national scale.
In prison, he developed problem-solving, resilience, and people skills while interpreting dreams and managing inmates.
In Pharaoh’s palace, he stepped into leadership—not because he was lucky, but because years of preparation had made him ready.
Lesson: Joseph didn’t rise to power overnight. He grew into it.
Had he been promoted straight from being his father’s favorite son to Egypt’s second-in-command, he would have failed. But because he developed his skills, character, and mindset in every season, he was prepared when the opportunity came.
The question is:
What opportunities do you want? Are you preparing for them, or just hoping they’ll come? If the door opened today, would you be able to walk through it with confidence?
Three Lessons from Those Who Got It Right
The Athlete Who Trained Before the Opportunity
Top athletes don’t wait for the big moment to start preparing. They train as if the opportunity is already here.
Lesson: If you prepare in advance, you won’t have to scramble when the opportunity comes.
The Business Owner Who Built a Strong Foundation
I once spoke with a business owner who had an incredible product, and one viral moment sent a flood of customers her way. But instead of celebrating, she was drowning in orders she couldn’t fulfill.
Lesson: Growth without structure leads to chaos. If you want to scale, build your foundation first.
The Employee Who Acted Like a Leader Before Getting the Title
I know someone who was working in a mid-level role but wanted a leadership position. Instead of waiting, he started showing up as if he was already in that role.
Lesson: You don’t get ready when the opportunity comes. You get the opportunity because you’re already ready.
How to Get Ready for Growth
So, what can you do right now to position yourself for the growth you want?
1. Upgrade Your Thinking
- Growth isn’t just about working harder—it’s about thinking differently.
- Instead of asking, “Why isn’t this happening yet?”, ask, “How can I prepare now?”
- Stop waiting for motivation. Growth isn’t about how you feel—it’s about what you consistently do.
2. Build Systems and Habits That Support Growth
- Want financial growth? Start managing your current finances better.
- Want a leadership role? Start acting like a leader today.
- Want to expand your business? Make sure your systems can handle it.
Growth isn’t an accident. It’s intentional.
3. Surround Yourself with Growth-Minded People
- You don’t grow in isolation. Who are you learning from?
- Find people who challenge and stretch you, not just those who agree with you.
- Get around people who are already where you want to be—it speeds up the process.
Final Thought: The Opportunity is Coming—Will You Be Ready?
Most people think the hardest part is getting the opportunity. It’s not.
The hardest part is being ready for it when it comes.
So, ask yourself:
If what you’re asking for showed up tomorrow, would you be able to handle it? If success found you today, would it strengthen you or expose you? If growth knocked on your door, would you have to say, “Give me a little more time”, or would you confidently step into it?
The time to prepare isn’t later. It’s now.
Because when the moment comes—and it will—you won’t have time to get ready.
You’ll either step into it with confidence, or you’ll let it pass you by.
So don’t just hope for growth.
Prepare for it.
