Business Growth is Like a Garden
- Christy Denman
- Jun 18, 2023
- 3 min read
It’s amazing how fast things change in the garden when conditions are just right. I stepped into my backyard last week after several days of rain, overcast skies with peeks of sunshine, and greenhouse-like humidity and temperatures to find a completely different landscape. The potted snapdragon needs a new location because the hibiscus is now blocking it’s sunlight, the rain gauge is lost in a forest of zinnias, the cilantro is blooming tiny purple flowers (I didn’t know it did that), and the just-planted corkscrew willow sapling appears to be drowning. When growth is the objective and conditions are ideal, changes are constant and fast, and those changes need constant attention and action.
A growing business is like a garden. When hard work, informed choices, and unending faith produce those ideal conditions for business growth, things start to transform and it becomes important to take a deep breath and take a stroll through the details to determine what shifts, realignments, new discoveries, and reassessments may be in order for continued growth.
Consider shifts in operations and processes that are more compatible with who you are. I recently read Marketing Like We're Human by Sarah Santacroce and was overjoyed to discover that marketing doesn’t have to be aggressive, harsh and manipulative. Connection is the key. More relationship building and less social media obsession makes me happy. Shifting position toward more sunlight can be the ticket to greater happiness in your business. Increase happiness, increase ease, increase growth.
Sometimes realignments are necessary when growth of any size becomes overwhelming and you find yourself lost in the forest with no clear path forward. Realign your mindset with your purpose. Make time to remember your desired direction and think about the core reasons and feelings that motivate you to work so hard. Podcasts like On Being with Krista Tippett and Sharon Mattern’s Pep Talks bring perspective and prompt ideas for direction in business and life. Take a bit of time out of your day to just be still and listen.
New discoveries can also help ease the growing pains. Dubsado and Asana are two tools I recently discovered and am currently implementing for more efficiency and organization in my business. Dubsado is the do-it-all tool for every project workflow from setting appointments to sending contracts and paying invoices, and Asana organizes my tasks from months in the year to minutes in the day, keeps me on task and on time. To boost your imagination and spark creativity for continued growth, try seeking and discovering new knowledge, those tiny blooms you didn’t know existed, that can blossom into big actions.
Finally and most importantly, don’t go it alone. With growth come changes that require a reassessment of how things are done. Make adjustments to create ease and bring back the joy in your work. Don’t continue to drown in the downpour of details that don’t add value. Determine those essential actions only you can do, and delegate the rest. Delegation is just a click away!
If your business depends on you, you don't own a business – you have a job.
– Michael Gerber, The E-Myth Revisited
BOOKS:
by Michael Gerber
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
BRIEFS:
"Managing Growth in Business" by Michael Kerr, CHRON., smallbusiness.chron.com
"Five Basic Strategies To Manage Business Growth" by Ben Gold, Forbes Councils Member, Forbes, forbes.com
BROADCASTS:
Humane Marketing Podcast
"Get Started with Dubsado" | Dubsado | YouTube Playlist
"What is Asana?" | Louise Henry | YouTube
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