Dear Leader,
I trust this meets you in pursuit of growth.
Every leader must desire to grow — but beyond desire, every leader must also take intentional steps toward that growth. Leadership growth is not automatic; it is deliberate, consistent, and deeply personal.
In this week’s letter I want to share five truths I have picked up on my own growth journey. I believe they will serve you well as you build the foundation for your leadership.
- Growth is a process.
Many people agree with that statement yet only a few live it. All real growth and progress is made step by step, following a natural sequence.
Think of Creation – God created the earth in 6 days, teaching us the principle of process. Each day was important in the whole scheme of creation, none was less or more important.
As children, we learn to roll over, then sit up, then crawl, then to walk and run. Each step is important and no step can be skipped. A child will not run until he crawls and walks. It’s a process. So is growth!
In school, we learn simple mathematics before we are taught algebra, then calculus. We don’t do calculus until we understand algebra.
In construction, you build a foundation before doing any form of work to raise a structure.
We believe in all these because they are natural, they can be seen. But the same applies to your life and your leadership. Growth is a process.
Take some time to think about it. - If Growth is a process, then we are all at different stages or levels of growth – spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, financially.
If I am at a different level from you, the things I am required to work on and overcome may be different from the things you have already conquered and vice versa.
Progress therefore involves accepting the fact that I am currently at “Level 2” and refusing to pretend to be anywhere else.
Growth does not need you to deceive yourself. - If we agree that we are all at different stages of growth, then comparison is dangerous.
Comparison breeds insecurity but we see it happen everywhere in our society today. Parents compare their children, employers and colleagues compare themselves.
If our sense of worth and personal security is tied to how we compare and match up with others, how insecure and anxious we will always be – from feeling superior one minute to feeling inferior the next minute. Our worth will always be changing depending on who we are comparing with.
Comparison forces people to seek short cuts, pretending to be who they are not and be ruled by other people’s opinion. It is best to compare ourselves only with ourselves. We can’t focus or base our happiness on another man’s progress. We can only focus on our own.
We should compare people against their own potential and constantly try to affirm that potential and their efforts towards reaching their potential. - There is no short cut.
If you are at “Level 2” and you desire to move to “Level 6”, you must go through Levels 3, 4 and 5. If you however pretend to be at “Level 6” whereas you are at Level 2, eventually you will be found out and soon enough lose everybody’s respect.
There is simply no short cut to growth. Take the process. Remind yourself always, No short cut. I will take the long road. - Lastly, to improve, you must start from where you are now, not from where you should be or where someone else is or where others think you are.
We must be true to ourselves. This is the foundation for growth. You must acknowledge where you are and start taking the steps towards the next level.
If you do one push up each day, you could end up doing 30 a month. Improvement in any area of your life requires that you do a little more of what it takes – daily effort and discipline. Consistency is the rule of the game.
Many of us aspire for the fruit of “Level 6” but are unwilling to obey the law of process to see the results.
Always, the key to growth is to begin where you are.
In summary:
Growth is a process.
We grow in levels.
Comparison is a trap.
There are no shortcuts.
And the journey always begins with honesty.
Begin today!
P.S. I have a few announcements!!!
- This Saturday, October 18th, 2025, I’ll be hosting over 50 young leaders at the Early Stage Leaders Roundtable taking place at the University of Delta, Agbor. We’ll be kicking off at 10:00 AM, and it promises to be an inspiring and transformative experience for emerging leaders.
We still have a few slots left! If you know any young person around the campus who is passionate about leadership and personal growth, make sure they don’t miss this opportunity. Attendance is strictly by invitation, and registration is required via this link – www.greatowete.com/roundtable
- I’m excited to announce the release of my new eBook titled Ready, Set, LEAD – Curated Letters for Early Stage Leaders, launching on October 18th, 2025.The download link will be shared first with participants of the Early Stage Leaders Roundtable, before it becomes publicly available.
If you know any young leader who should read this, encourage them to subscribe to The Great Letters at greatowete.substack.com to stay updated and receive exclusive insights on leadership and growth.
I am rooting for your growth,
The Great Owete