A green thumb can lead to a vibrant and healthy garden, but it can also lead to wealth and professional growth. As winter comes to an end, and the season changes into a mode of gardening, planting and harvesting, it’s also important to think about growth from within.
Take this opportunity of renewal, growth and possibility to get your hands a little dirty, both literally and figuratively. Plant the seeds for growth in your career!
Planting the seeds
It begins with the foundation. Preparing the soil at the appropriate time by mixing compost and other nutrients is the first step toward a successful spring gardening season.
There’s a proportion to keep in mind — two parts organic matter to six parts, or inches, of soil. Similarly, with professional growth, a well-balanced foundation is best equipped to take on a new endeavor.
Soil that’s packed with heavy clay can choke off air, limiting the plant’s access to oxygen. Plants will not do well in this scenario. Once the soil is prepped, the next step is to select what to plant and when.
If you feel trapped in your career, you may feel like a plant with heavy clay. Don’t set limits on yourself! Have a positive mindset and be open to change. It can be intimidating, but also very rewarding!
Types of crops
Cole crops are cool-season vegetables that start as a seed in your garden or in an indoor setting. The outdoor group includes kale, onions, lettuce, turnips and the indoor crops consist of cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and others.
The indoor vegetables will need about four to six weeks of cultivation before being moved out of a greenhouse and to the outdoors. Peppers take about eight to 10 weeks. Two to three weeks after planting the cool-season vegetables, you can begin to work on group two of crops, which feature beets, carrots, potatoes, swiss chard and others. The best time is usually around the second to third week of March.
Just like the seeds, you must plant the seeds for success by dusting off your resume, networking and putting yourself out there for open positions. Just like plants, your first big opportunity could take four to six weeks to appear, but once it does you will have the opportunity to put your best foot forward and nail the interview.
Growth through balance
Time in the garden is a great way to enhance the balance between work and life. Building and advancing your career requires time away to decompress and take a break from the daily grind. Just like the intervals of planting and harvesting, life must also make room for quieter moments.
Achieving career growth you want and need will require a lot of hard work too. In today’s competitive and fast-changing job market, employers are looking for up-and-coming self-starters who prioritize both hard work and development.
Continued learning, growth mindset, new experiences, mentorship and networking are just some of the nutrients you’ll need to grow and fully reach your professional peak.
Focus on foundational elements
Gardening is only possible with a strong foundation — which is the soil. In work life, a strong foundational understanding of core skills and processes are important also.
The excitement of taking on a new job or challenge can muddy the waters on what’s really vital to professional growth. Without a firm grasp of core skills, and the cumulative experience of carrying out those skills, job seekers will have a difficult time hitting the ground running the next time they take on new work.
Building and learning processes are also transformational. As you build on core skills, you will become more efficient, accurate and proficient. Once you master all facets of job tasks, then you can begin to experience growth that incorporates new challenges, skills, processes and responsibilities
Turn failure into opportunity
A lot of trial and error goes into gardening. In the professional world, however, it can be easy to just forget about the error.
Instead, embrace failure and look for teachable fragments in a job you did not end up getting. And also remember the value of taking calculated risks and showing a willingness to put yourself out there. Do not let the prospect of a misstep deter you from going for a home run.
Also, learn from the examples of others, in good times and bad. As you develop close working relationships with peers and mentors, don’t be afraid to get into the weeds and ask about their success stories and everything it took to get that that point.
Remember, growth is always possible, even when things are looking a little dry. So, embrace the weeds just as much as the flowers by absorbing the lessons each one gives.
Grow in all directions
Not all plants grow as tall as a tree. Similarly, not all career paths take a vertical trajectory from associate, senior to vice president.
As workforces change and new technologies take center stage, workers have an opportunity to pivot and take on new challenges instead of focusing on the next rung on the ladder. Some of the best moments of growth come from new environments and job experiences, which might be not possible if your primary focus is vertical growth.
Dramatic movement can also happen within your current workplace. For example, if your manager is creating a new position outside your division, look at it as a chance to develop new skills within a new and exciting environment. The potential payoff can be significant in the short and long term.
If you need any other help, or are seeking job openings in the health care or IT industries, then you are in the right place! Check out our career page for current job openings we have. Contact us if you have any questions.