Takeaway
Be mindful in all things of the implications of what we do today and how it leads to the fruitfulness of our tomorrows.
Estimated Reading Time: 3 1/2 Minutes
Mostly We Reap What We Sow
I’m not sure where I got it, but there is a framed quote on my bookshelf that says “You have to be good at one of two things in life; planting in the Spring, or begging in the Fall.” The quote is credited to a motivational speaker named Jim Rohn. I don’t how long I’ve had it but it’s been a trusted friend over the years.
I subscribe to the idea that mostly we reap what we sow. There are underserved windfalls in our lives and unexpected challenges that we can’t figure out what we did to bring them about. But mostly, at least in our management careers, we can look back and connect the dots between action and result.
Determine the Route You Will Take
It’s interesting to me when I consider this quote that either we determine we’ll plant in the spring or we don’t. That’s the choice. If we don’t, by default, we will be forced to beg in the fall.
Planting seeds for a manager refers to all those activities we do now, where we know we won’t get rewarded until sometime in the future. It’s the faith we have that if we do the right thing, with the right person, at the right time, in the end we will receive an abundance in the harvest. It’s also, over time, the realization that not every seed will make it, and not letting that deter you.
Planting for a manager involves investing your time and energy in others. There is no substitute for that. Imagine planting seeds in a garden and walking away and saying “Ok, I’ve done my job seeds, it’s up to you and how bad you want to grow to finish the job.” You will need to water, remove weeds, possibly support the spindly young plants with stakes, and keep the bugs away.
Patience
It takes patience and a healthy amount of faith to nurture young plants for months with only the hope that they will bear fruit down the line. In fact, I like the practice common among fruit growers where they intentionally sacrifice having a harvest for several years so that they can redirect all energy into growing the tree or bush first. Those farmers understand that years and years of harvest will come, but they must be patient and put in the work up front.
Conclusion
As a manager you must adhere to the idea that you will invest most of your time and energy early in developing people to their full potential.
Transformational Exercise
Write down a list of 5 activities that you do now, or you feel you should start doing, that represent “planting in the spring”. An example might be developing the habit of recognizing important milestones with personal notes to those who report to you.
