In our society, images and stories of success, innovation, and resilience often dominate the public narrative. The humble Christian business owner is typically seen as a figure of tireless energy, endless grit, deep passion, and an uncanny knack for ‘getting it right’ when most others ‘get it wrong.’ Business owners are often seen as those who can weather storms, pivot on a dime, and inspire teams toward new heights.

When I was a little guy, I helped my grandmother plant an apricot sapling, more stick than a tree at first, but year after year it thickened, stretched, and sent roots deeper until I was eating apricots from its branches. Fruitfulness did not arrive in a single dramatic moment. Four years of steady growth passed before we enjoyed the fruit. In the same way, healthy companies do not “order” leaders from the outside when they suddenly need them. They cultivate them from the inside as a normal part of life together.