Let's talk: Growing your own fruit & veg

If you think this story is about growing vegetables, well, it may not.

What initially began as a lighthearted joke, a mere bet or perhaps a delightful challenge, has transformed into something truly remarkable over the course of the last 15 years. When I first shared with my beloved wife the whimsical notion of constructing a organic vegetable garden where she could elegantly don a cocktail dress and high heels while effortlessly harvesting an abundance of produce, little did we know the incredible journey that awaited us. We've even ventured into producing eggs, edible mushrooms, and other intriguing produce.

Throughout this process, we've discovered two fundamental principles:

1. To minimize visits to the supermarket, it's essential to cultivate all of vegetable types. Otherwise, occasional grocery trips become necessary.
2. To overcome the challenges imposed by Mother Nature, we've learned the importance of producing ten times the amount of vegetables we actually require. This surplus not only ensures an abundant harvest but also enables us to donate fresh produce to family, friends, and social institutions—an immensely rewarding consequence.

Contrary to the notion that maintaining a large garden is burdensome or confining, the reality couldn't be further from the truth. During the planting season, we dedicate less than a day each week to tend to our garden. The real problem is really the harvesting season, really an issue to manage such amount of delicious foods. Moreover, there are no rigid rules to follow; even if we take a week or two off, the plants manage to survive on their own accord. After all, they are called "veggies" for a reason.

So, are you interested in building your own garden? Perhaps you've already embarked on this journey, or maybe you've tried in the past but encountered obstacles. If that's the case, I'm here to help. Through my own trial and error, hands-on experience, and countless hours spent decoding the secrets of successful vegetable cultivation, I've gained valuable insights that I'm eager to share.

In the coming weeks, I plan to post a series of how-to guides, do's and don't, and valuable advice on this topic, maybe even a photo or two of the cocktail dress and high heels theme.

Cultivating a garden is the second—well maybe the third—most crucial step you can take towards achieving a fulfilling and successful professional career and life. Let me elaborate.

Once you embark on the journey of gardening, apart from enhancing your personal life and strengthening family bonds, you'll discover a new means of connecting with colleagues, partners, and customers. Suddenly, you have an interesting topic to discuss—a fresh piece of news or a delightful icebreaker for any meeting or interaction. Instead of engaging in mundane conversations about weather, war, or sports, you now possess an engaging subject that resonates with everyone. In today's business landscape, where human connections still make all the difference, this newfound avenue of communication fosters trust and confidence from the very first moment.

Over the years, I have integrated my vegetable garden into numerous corporate activities, both internally and externally. This involvement has lead me to engage with colleagues, partners, and customers in various corporate responsibility initiatives. We've built community gardens, raised funds, cleaned and planted new green spaces. We've organized special lunches featuring my homegrown veggies, forged new friendships, and celebrated with joyous gatherings.

Did these endeavors result in closing more deals? Did they contribute to my personal growth, promotion, or a better career trajectory? Did they impact people's lives along the way? I leave these questions to the reader's judgment.

While my vegetable garden is indeed real, productive, and a life-altering event, I hope you understood that I've used it here as a metaphor for the power of passion, dreams, and self-expression. Any hobby or skill that ignites your passion can serve as a catalyst for transformation. These aspects of your identity should accompany you every day, every moment—they are an integral part of who you are.

Often, when corporations seek to hire "creative individuals," they "inadvertently" suppress that very creativity by imposing rigid rules, processes, guidelines, and corporate culture.

So, what can you do about it?

Be true to yourself, bring your ideas and hobbies to the table—essentially, embody the very essence of what they initially hired: you.