This IS NOT “Just How It Is”

I’m a little nervous as I write this blog article because it’s going to be particularly vulnerable for me. Most of the time I talk about what our team is seeing in schools and how to move forward, but today I’m going to share what’s been going on at Blueprint Schools and how our team is trying to move forward.

This past quarter, the first three months of 2026, has been particularly challenging. Things didn’t seem quite right, I wasn’t sure how to address them, and our team was extremely busy. The areas in which we wanted to grow weren’t growing, we were all learning new roles or duties, and everything just felt…complicated and urgentevery day.

My Hand to Forehead Moment

I could identify areas that weren’t working and threw efforts behind them, but it still felt like the system was gummed up. I was reacting instead of leading, and that drove me nuts because what I preach is proactive leadership. Eeek.

And then, just in the last couple of weeks, I had a wonderful lightbulb moment, a real hand slap to the forehead. We needed to do a Progress Report on OURSELVES, on Blueprint Schools.

What We’re Finding in the Process

As I started looking at Blueprint Schools through our own 7+1 Framework, this is what surfaced:

1. A Clear Mission and Values - this is spurring us forward, even during challenges. I’m proud of the way we’re referencing our unique mission and values in meetings, consultations, and decision-making moments.

2. Incomplete Community Knowledge - it’s time to sit down with more of our clients more regularly. While we’ve always been listening carefully in consultations, we need to begin more intentional and consistent research to inform our decision-making.

3. A Confusing Program - many people know us as a school marketing company (because that’s how we began), but we are really about helping schools become sustainable throughout their whole ministry. How do we create better understanding of what we do?

4. Growing Consistent Finances - how do we support a growing team while remaining affordable to our clients? When we were a one-person company, fluctuations were easier to navigate. Now, consistent payroll requires consistent numbers.

5. Identity in Marketing - while our marketing is high quality and consistent, we have a brand clarity issue. We need to more concisely describe WHO we are and WHAT we do so people quickly understand HOW we can help. Can each member of our team give you the same 30-second explanation? Not yet.

6. Strategic Planning without a Clear Vision - we’ve been setting quarterly goals, but we’ve outgrown that approach. As our team has grown, we need a bigger strategic plan and shared vision.

7. A Passionate Team Lacking Full Focus and Unity - we have a talented, passionate team with a million great ideas….but our biggest need right now is FOCUS so we can work in UNITY. Too much information has lived in my head, and it needs to be shared so we’re all operating from the same context. As our team grows, my role is also shifting from working IN the business to working ON the business. It’s an adjustment!

As I worked through all of this, I couldn’t help but think about the people we serve, because this is exactly what we see all the time in schools! And this begs the question: So if these problems are so common, what gets in the way of leaders seeing them?

We Can’t Read the Label If We’re Inside the Bottle

“It’s really hard to read the label if you’re inside the bottle.” I use this expression all the time in our consultations and meetings because so many leaders and team experience this same struggle. When we are so far in the middle of all our day-to-day problems and crises, we just can’t see what the real issue is. We struggle to identify the problem when we’re so far in the middle of it. We get peeks at the symptoms and complications, but have difficulty identifying the overarching issue of our own school.

Like I said, so many of us struggle with this. In fact, most leaders can’t see clearly on their own. And sometimes the more invested and committed we are to our work and those we serve, the more difficult it is to take the time we need to stop, bring in a third party, and really evaluate it all. It’s not a lack of faithfulness or even expertise, usually it’s just a perspective from someone who’s not so “inside of it all.”

And as we’re boiling it all down at Blueprint Schools, it’s what we have been struggling with too. We need shared CLARITY so we can work in UNITY.

How We’re Moving Forward

Now that I have a clear picture of where we are and what’s underneath our issues, I’m moving from frustration/overwhelm to clarity/excitement. I am excited for the future again. I’m less exhausted because I have a plan. I have renewed vigor to dive back into the next quarter of work. I know we’re going to move forward because we’ve got FOCUS. We’re working on the right things in the right order according to our unique gifts. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Are You Solving the Problem…Or Just Accepting It?

I’d like to wrap up this article by addressing one particular dangerous belief out there among school teams. Have you heard this before?

“This is just how it is in school ministry.”

What I’ve realized in meeting so many school teams is many of them have not experienced a healthy, thriving, sustainable school organization. They’ve never had a mission and values that they actually used to make decisions. They’ve never made strategic decisions based on research and data. They’ve never conscientiously differentiated their identities or been unified around an educational philosophy or culture statement. They’ve never clicked off goals on an actionable strategic plan. They’ve never realized that roles can be adjusted and plates can be moved around on a team. They’ve looked at thriving ministries as “lucky” or “just really blessed” or “flukes.”

All thriving ministries are blessed–no doubt about that. What else is true? Most thriving ministries are putting in a lot of conscious effort, clear focus, and proactive thinking. Most thriving ministries have focus.

Over the last few months, it was tempting to listen to some voices that told me “This is just scaling. It’s just difficult. This is just how it is.” While all of this has been difficult, it would be ten times more difficult to never, ever move forward. To stay stuck in the same problems and issues. To feel like there was no end to our current struggles.

I’m glad I didn’t listen to the voices. And you don’t have to either.

We don’t have to be resigned to “this is just how it is” in our schools ministries.

Challenge the “This Is Just How It Is”

How do you know if your school ministry needs to stop and evaluate? Here are five signs:

1. You’re all working really faithfully…but not much is changing year-to-year. There’s a feeling of being stuck.

2. The most urgent issues keep setting the agenda, instead of a clear plan wiith priorities.

3. If you asked your team to describe your vision, identity or next steps, you’d get five different answers.

4. You feel tension. There are opportunities out there, but you’re not sure what to do with them.

5. You worry about one or two people leaving, because your ministry is so deeply dependent on them.

If you’re ready to move forward or want support “reading the label on your particular bottle,” think about completing a Progress Report or beginning our Building Sustainability partnership. Schedule a consultation to ask all your questions and contemplate next steps. We’d love to learn more about your school ministry!