Dried Leaves
Scott Hanson, Ph.D.
Behavioral Insights Consultant | Data Strategist | Journey Modeler | Insights System Architect
Today is the 10th anniversary of the founding of Iota Consulting, llc . Like 2024, the year 2014 was one of great personal change for me. In addition to founding my own company (much less glamorous than it sounds), I took over as Director of the The University of Texas at Arlington - MS in Marketing Research , a role that allowed me to foster the growth of curiosity and development of research skills in students seeking to change their lives through education. I enjoyed the ‘life’ I spent in that role.?
As I was feeding our animals this morning (4 dogs and 2 cats,… yes), I noticed a plant was in need of attention. Like most of the aforementioned animals, this plant was a “rescue” (from the markdown bin in the local grocery floral section). I guess my inner Charlie Brown spoke up because I took that sickly little plant home, placed it on the windowsill in my office, and watered it each time the soil felt dry.
It bloomed beautifully and kept going, growing into the plant I noticed this morning. Actually, the glass container caught my eye because it was full of dried leaves. As I carefully extracted dozens of leaves, I realized that this plant, which seemed to do nothing, had, in fact, grown in ways I had not noticed, even though I stood in front of it for several minutes every day. Today, I cleaned it up and returned it to the window, now thinking about the next pot it will occupy. It has obviously outgrown this one.
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I encouraged my students to go through a similar exercise at the end of each season of their professional life. Take stock of the growth you've achieved, the lessons you've learned, and the mistakes you won't repeat at the close of each important exercise, whether that is an interview, a project, a year, or even a career. I appreciate and cherish each leaf in my own garden, so I remind myself to make time for this exercise when it feels appropriate.
I hope you can take the time to gather your own dried leaves this season. And I hope you can appreciate them as evidence of growth, especially if you are one who tends to race from one thing to the next without taking time to appreciate and respect their own progress.
Clean things up and find yourself a nice sunny spot to drop more leaves.?Happy New Year!