Here in Chicagoland, we went from a freezing windy Mother’s Day weekend of thirty degree temperatures to a balmy, humid eighty degrees day on Tuesday. We went to bed with the heat on Monday night and turned on the air-conditioning by mid-day on Tuesday. Such is the crazy life we lead in the Midwest.
With frost on the ground one day, and humid heat the next, it is hard to figure out exactly when we are supposed to find time to get our spring crops in the ground. Too early and we risk killing them with frost. But stall even a little and we miss spring entirely as summer pops up out of nowhere and takes off running.
My poor little tomato plants are sitting on my window sill wondering why they aren’t outside enjoying this beautiful sunny day. Alas, I’m too busy working on my business and clients now to get them there. When I HAD the time to get them out there, it was too darn cold!
I am typing this up while drinking my coffee in the sanctuary, (my living room) overlooking my flower garden in the front yard. Tulips and little green sprouts of Hostas are poking their way out of the ground along side a few weeds that I haven’t had time to go pull. I know the drill. If I don’t make time to get out there, those weeds will race their way through the dirt at a reckless pace until they crowd out every pretty flower and turn my garden—and my sanctuary view— into a disaster.
And yet my first thought as I sat here sipping my coffee was, “When am I going to find time to get out there and plant my spring garden and my veggie garden? I’m too darn busy!!”
My inner coach had a quick response. “If you don’t take time to plant your seeds, you won’t have any gardens come summer to enjoy at all. Garden’s don’t wait for anyone! Make Time!”
Yeah, my inner coach is a bitch sometimes.
But she is also right. And it is the same thing in our business, as it is in our gardens.
These last few weeks, Deb and I have been abundantly blessed with referrals and business to the point of juggling schedules and projects and creating a waiting list. We are grateful. We are never too busy for new clients and your referrals. But it also means that we had to step it up and remind ourselves that there are some tasks that can not ever be pushed to the side.
Number one on that list is planting seeds and tilling the business garden.
Right now we are busy harvesting the fruits of the business garden we planted last autumn and in the early months of January and February. Seeds of new relationships, networking and education that stretched our opportunities in exciting new directions. However, if we spend ALL of our time plucking these new opportunities from the ground and NONE of our time planting (investing) and returning to the ground, then come time for the next harvest, there will be nothing there. The earth will be barren. Our business will have dried up and we will not be reaping the plentiful harvest that comes from happy client referrals, networking, new education, renewal, and inspired creativity.
It is Dangerously Tempting To Focus on The Harvest.
But smart gardeners understand that the harvest is only one small part of the gardening cycle. Without the planting, the watering, the weeding, and careful tending of the crop—THERE WILL NEVER BE A HARVEST.
Focus on the Planting. Focus on the watering, the weeding, the careful tending, the walking through the garden enjoying the fresh air, the rejuvenation and joy of having the garden in the first place. Focus on learning new gardening techniques, honing your craft, combining the best of heirloom and new seed ideas, networking with other gardeners, sharing thoughts, seeds, dividing and growing your plants together, sharing community gardens…feeding the world.
The Harvest will come in response to your focus on the rest, not on your focus on the harvest itself.
How are you taking time to plant your business gardens? Please share in the comments!