What I learned about business from Tomatoes
Where are you hiding your wisdom & genius behind someone else’s system?
I harvested the first tomatoes last week.
Soon my dining room table will be filled with baskets of tomatoes vying for my attention.
We also brought in a basket of eggplant, early squash, & peppers.
August is the time of year when the veggies with seeds on the inside come ripe.
The foods that will sustain our bodies through winter while rewarding us for our dedication to the humble act of growing our own food.
I have been feeding my family year round from the garden for more than 20 years.
I have also been supporting entrepreneurs in growing businesses they love & that love them in return for more than 30 years.
I have learned some important business lessons from these fruits of my labor.
Quick results do not sustain
While I love summer salads fresh from the garden, lettuce has a short shelf life.
It’s the fleshy winter squash, juicy tomatoes, & spicy peppers that fill our bellies through the long cold winters of Vermont.
Many new entrepreneurs spread themselves too thin as they race to serve anyone who is willing to hire them.
Growing a healthy prosperous business means taking the time to create rich programming with substance that attracts your best fit clients.
Custom is better than off the shelf
I start my own tomato plants because I’ve curated a collection of great tasting, high producing, disease free tomatoes over the years.
It would be faster to buy seedlings from a local nursery, but then I wouldn’t be able to make my special pasta sauce with a mix of Gilbertie, Ukrainian Purple & Black Japanese plum tomatoes.
It’s tempting to buy kits, adopt formulas, become certified in other expert’s tools & methods.
Although I have several certifications & degrees, the true genius that I bring to my clients come from the unique combination of personal experience, client stories, & the challenges I’ve overcome.
Shared wisdom feed the soul
I love growing my own food, but I love teaching others how to do it for themselves even more.
Although I am a masterful gardener now, my enthusiasm only grows richer through mentoring, teaching, & supporting others create their own flourishing gardens.
With 35-years of experience in business, it would be easy for me to rest on my laurels, but I know I would soon grow stale.
It’s through coaching, teaching, & facilitating others through the process of creating businesses that they love that I stay as fresh as new lettuce & full like a pumpkin.
What kind of sustaining programs are you creating these days?
Where are you hiding your wisdom & genius behind someone else’s systems?
How do you keep yourself fresh & engaged in your business?
Want to Grow a business that you love and loves you back?
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