Vegetable gardening feeds the mind, spirit, and body. Most people, however, only focus on the edible end results. I've enjoyed some success growing tomatoes. I'm defining success as the harvesting of far more tomatoes than I could either can or consume on my own.
While harvesting recently, I realized that tomatoes have reinforced some crucial business lessons.
1. Plant deep roots.
When planting a tomato seedling, you'll want to bury most of it in the soil so that it has plenty of space to form roots. This helps the plant grow due to the nutrients the roots absorb, and ensures that it doesn't topple easily in winds or under the strain of the fruit it produces.
When planting a tomato seedling, you'll want to bury most of it in the soil so that it has plenty of space to form roots. This helps the plant grow due to the nutrients the roots absorb, and ensures that it doesn't topple easily in winds or under the strain of the fruit it produces.
Any job is the same. Though the roots will be an understanding of the corporate culture and history of the company you join; research into the products and processes of the organization; and a steep learning curve about how you fit into the organization as a whole.
Learn as much as you can, as fast as you can.
Learn as much as you can, as fast as you can.
2. Protect yourself from obvious issues
Cut worms are dangerous. They will kill healthy plants with ease. You probably won't see them until it's too late. So prepare for them when planting.
Dangers in business are usually easier to both see and avoid. Toxic co-workers of every variety - from the constantly lazy to the ruthlessly ambitious - wander around every company. You will have to work with them, but you don't have to be their friends or become embroiled in office politics in the process.
Cut worms are dangerous. They will kill healthy plants with ease. You probably won't see them until it's too late. So prepare for them when planting.
Dangers in business are usually easier to both see and avoid. Toxic co-workers of every variety - from the constantly lazy to the ruthlessly ambitious - wander around every company. You will have to work with them, but you don't have to be their friends or become embroiled in office politics in the process.
3. Pay attention to early growth
Tomatoes need some babying early on. They require extra attention in order to mature properly. A job is the same. That steep learning curve must be climbed as quickly as possible for you to be effective at what you're doing. Besides, companies don't wait for employees to learn. They'll prune you out of the garden without hesitation.
Tomatoes need some babying early on. They require extra attention in order to mature properly. A job is the same. That steep learning curve must be climbed as quickly as possible for you to be effective at what you're doing. Besides, companies don't wait for employees to learn. They'll prune you out of the garden without hesitation.
4. Feed and water regularly
Make it a habit. For a tomato it's all about water and sunlight. For you, it's all about knowledge and building your skills. The more you learn, the faster you'll grow.
Make it a habit. For a tomato it's all about water and sunlight. For you, it's all about knowledge and building your skills. The more you learn, the faster you'll grow.
5. Train for the direction you want to grow
Tomatoes have a tendency to spread out in any direction. That's why they're put in cages. So they grow the proper way and don't take over a garden - or droop so low that the fruit is rotting on the ground.
Identify the skills you want - not just the ones you need to do your job effectively. Learn them. Practice them. It's how you'll thrive.
Tomatoes have a tendency to spread out in any direction. That's why they're put in cages. So they grow the proper way and don't take over a garden - or droop so low that the fruit is rotting on the ground.
Identify the skills you want - not just the ones you need to do your job effectively. Learn them. Practice them. It's how you'll thrive.
6. Identify and eliminate pests immediately
Don't let pests feed on your plants. With tomatoes you can spot them easily. Some can be squashed between your fingers. Others, such as birds, can be avoided by simply picking the tomatoes before they're fully ripe (as long as they have the proper size and aren't green they will finish ripening on your kitchen counter).
Don't let pests feed on your plants. With tomatoes you can spot them easily. Some can be squashed between your fingers. Others, such as birds, can be avoided by simply picking the tomatoes before they're fully ripe (as long as they have the proper size and aren't green they will finish ripening on your kitchen counter).
In business, the pests will assume myriad forms. From the co-worker who wishes to wax poetic about his weekend fun or the colleague who wants to define every negative thing the company does, the pests will consume your most valuable assets - time and focus. Avoid them.
You don't have to be rude, simply let them know you have something urgent to handle. It's work, after all.
7. Enjoy the process as much as the end result
Like the plants, you'll grow - wiser, smarter, more experienced - as you produce. Enjoy it every minute you're able. It will make the final product that much tastier.
Like the plants, you'll grow - wiser, smarter, more experienced - as you produce. Enjoy it every minute you're able. It will make the final product that much tastier.
8. The season will end
Like tomatoes being planted to produce fruit, you were hired for a job. Do it. Do it to the best of your ability every day. One day, you'll be done. The project may be finished. The company may decide you're expendable. You may receive an offer to do a job elsewhere.
When the time comes, move on and plant yourself in the next job.
Like tomatoes being planted to produce fruit, you were hired for a job. Do it. Do it to the best of your ability every day. One day, you'll be done. The project may be finished. The company may decide you're expendable. You may receive an offer to do a job elsewhere.
When the time comes, move on and plant yourself in the next job.
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