One of the many truths I have learned throughout my 71 years of dancing and scratching my way to this point in time, is that everything has a flip side. I mean EVERYTHING. To give you just one example: “Haste makes waste,” is a phrase we all can come to terms with. But soon we are reminded, “He who hesitates is lost.” Total opposite beliefs.
Recently, I was confronted with a situation where I had to decide if the fall was a good time to plant a little grass – or if I should wait until springtime. I Googled the quandary and was soon confronted with two opposing opinions. One response suggested spring was the ideal time to green-up your front yard, while another endorsed the cooler autumn weather. This is what is known in the horticultural field as a “real conundrum.”
I decided to cast my fate to the wind and, before I knew it, I was preparing my designated plot with a mixture of topsoil and seasoned goat manure. The month was September and the first frost had come and gone.
I’m sharing this story with you for a couple of reasons. First, you will be inundated with opposing recommendations as you pursue a successful career. There never seems to be one correct answer. Pick one. As they teach us in golf, line up your putt, make a decision as to its projected roll, and hit the thing. If it does not drop into the hole, hit it again.
In my case, I Googled. I read both sides and made a decision. I tossed a billion seeds into the prepared ground.
To tie this back to business: I researched. I made a plan. I did something.
Stay with me. This will all make sense in a minute or two. I knew that a billion seeds would not result in a billion blades of grass. But regardless of the outcome I knew my efforts to this point would all be in vain, if I did not follow through with some focused attention. A regular watering routine was in order. I began to water daily, only to see… nothing happened. I kept on watering. Nothing.
But then one day, if by magic, I spotted something that appeared to be a single blade of grass. It was green and it stuck straight up in the air. After focusing for a minute, my eye caught a second blade. Then a third. My plan was working. I was growing grass. My efforts were paying dividends. I was a horticultural genius. (Horticulturalist may be the wrong word. Maybe Landscaper Extraordinaire paints a more accurate picture.) Whatever you call it, I was in my element.
Let me get this thing out in the interest of time, so I can go outside and continue watering my budding lawn.
- You must prepare the groundwork.
- You must toss plenty of seeds knowing most will not germinate.
- You must follow through and continue to manage your project.
- You must keep on keeping on once you begin to see results.
As foolish as it may sound, I was genuinely excited when I saw my efforts paying noticeable dividends. My grass was actually taking root. I would have probably experienced the same results if I waited for the spring, but now I will be mowing my new project in May rather than still “thinking” about it.
Begin planting your seeds today and don’t lose hope.
Mike Marchev is always looking for a few more proactive travel professionals to join his Sales and Marketing Club. Send for details.
