Jean-Jacques Rousseau famously said, “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” He’s right. Patience is bitter. As I look back on those times now, I see so much growth that happened in the waiting. Jean-Jacques Rousseau IS right. Not only is patience bitter but its fruit is truly sweet. Those years between buyer and director shaped me and prepared me for my future. The skills I acquired, the relationships I fostered, and the person I became during that time ended up making me uniquely qualified and prepared for the next phase of my career.