Planting Seeds for a Beautiful Future
Frank Choy
Outsourced CFO | Mgt Consultant | Business Adviser @ Capstone Consulting | Manufacturing Process Improvement
"I have the endings for stories begun years ago. The future seems more precious for feeling its finitude." Anna Funder
Reading the weekend magazines on a Saturday morning, I was suddenly and powerfully in the moment when I came across these words from a renowned Australian writer.
In an age where instant gratification often takes precedence, there lies a profound truth in the statement.
This captures the essence of our existence – a continuous journey of planting seeds. These seeds, representing our actions, thoughts, and intentions, are sown daily in various forms: ideas, relationships, learning, experiences, wisdom, and generosity.
As we nurture them with purpose and care, they blossom into a rich tapestry of life, filled with diverse and fruitful experiences.
In this article, we look at how to keep consciously planting seeds, how to look after the gardens in our minds, and being conscious and intentional in our daily lives. Having absorbed so much knowledge and experiences, it is up to each individual how we creatively build the optimal endings to our many stories.
The Art of Planting Seeds
Each day, we engage in the subtle art of planting seeds. These seeds represent our actions, thoughts, and dreams. It's not just about reacting to the present or passively waiting for others to shape our destiny.
The new calendar year is fast approaching. Rather than impulsively listing New Year's resolutions, especially after a big night out, what helps is to set out your intentions which are multi-faceted and holistic. They are intertwined:
We actively nurture these seeds, watering them with our efforts, feeding them with our creativity. Over time, these seeds bloom into opportunities, relationships, and achievements.
The Cycle of Seasons and Growth
Life is a series of seasons. In some, we sow; in others, we reap the fruits of our labour.
This cycle reminds us that we don't traverse the same river twice. Each challenge, every small victory, enriches us. Our experiences interlace to form a rich fabric of wisdom and knowledge.
Your successes in a work project or specialty is not guaranteed the next time you tackle a similar project or role. Importantly, what have you learned, and can you do better the next time around?
Case study - Multi-generation diversity
I work with a business client where two generations are present. The older generation were migrants with typical values of work and thrift. The younger generation were born in Australia. I am often encouraging the younger ones to bring their generation's perspectives especially in use of technology in marketing. Every generation has different perspectives and energies.
Weaving the Fabric of Experience
Our myriad experiences interweave to create a rich fabric of life. By combining our collected experiences and learnings creatively, we innovate new ideas, products, and services.
Each person's unique blend of experiences allows us to see opportunities that others might miss, leading to innovative solutions.
As creatures of habit, caution and herd mentality, we sometimes overlook our unique capabilities and stick with the same old ways and traditions. We often miss out on opportunities.
Case Study - The Inventive Chef
Take Sacha, a food manufacturer who has travelled the world. Each country's unique cuisine added to his culinary repertoire. In his kitchen, these diverse experiences culminated in a groundbreaking fusion cuisine, celebrated for its innovation.
The Art of Seeing Patterns and Joining the Dots
Identifying patterns and making connections between seemingly disparate experiences is an art.
It's about looking beyond the obvious, finding common threads, and weaving them into a coherent and innovative whole.
Case Study - Collaboration in customer solutions
Most businesses outsourcing specialty services usually have to buy from multiple independent suppliers.
A good example is digital marketing where a business may end up buying from a - brand designer, marketing strategist, sales trainer, web developer, content writer, photographer, videographer, SEO, etc.
It makes better commercial sense for these suppliers to collaborate and have a single project manager and communication point.
Steve Jobs was a trained designer and did not have a background in technology. One of Apple's keys to success was Steve Jobs collaboration with Steve Wozniak, the technical brains behind the early successes of Apple.
Maintaining Creativity Amidst Life's Distractions
In the hustle of daily life, maintaining creativity and innovation can be challenging. Here are some tips to keep the creative fires burning:
Learning Beyond Boundaries
A growth mindset, coupled with a curiosity that extends beyond our immediate field of expertise, lays the foundation for groundbreaking ideas.
By stepping out of our comfort zones and exploring unfamiliar territories, we enrich our knowledge base, which in turn fuels our creativity.
Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba is a trained teacher. His early curiosity and vision in the power of the internet led him to start the world's largest eCommerce business; helped by his communication skills.
Conclusion
Our lives are indeed like a series of seasons, each offering opportunities to plant, nurture, and harvest.
By embracing the art of seeing patterns, maintaining our creativity, and grounding ourselves in gratitude, we weave the rich fabric of our daily lives which leads to better outcomes.
Every seed of experience, carefully cultivated with conscious intention, has the potential to yield a harvest beyond our imagination, enriching not just our lives but also those around us.
Let us continue to plant these seeds with purpose and watch as our gardens flourish in the spectrum of life's infinite possibilities.
All the best for the week ahead!
Frank Choy
3 December 2023
Social Media Management ? Email Marketing ? Associate Neuroplastician? ? Digital Marketing ? Mailchimp
1 年Love this garden metaphor Frank Choy! I'm planting seeds of growth by prioritizing learning and fostering meaningful connections. Your post is a great reminder to keep nurturing those intentions for a fulfilling journey ahead!
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1 年A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in. Frank Choy
Global Keynote Speaker | Networking & Business Growth Expert | Author
1 年This resonates well with my current trajectory. :)
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1 年Frank Choy It is so important to have a purpose in life and work on project's too. It brings hope and a sense of achievement too. What lovely written words, which are so powerful and nicely written too.
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1 年Yes ?? Frank Choy Let’s plant seeds of awareness as Humilty and kindness …. Water them with sacred honour of silence beyond expectations or outcomes. I’ve been planting some seeds that I never expect to see the fruits of or be able to sit in the shade of the trees ?? …. Haha ?? That’s the deep beauty of sewing … You know There are certain parrots ?? that peck the hole in a trunk where a young branch fell off …. They enlarge the hollow … It provides nesting for their species in around 30 to 40 years time …. We have much to learn …. Haha ?? Cheers ?????????? Stay well ??