Last night, I turned to Facebook for help with my ailing tomato plant, which had developed yellow leaves with dark spots.
My hope was that a friend, or perhaps a gardening expert, would see the image and know exactly what is wrong with my tomato plant.
Here is a photo of the diseased tomato plant 👇
The responses that flooded my comment section brought back memories from a time my mom boldly asked her dear friend for her stuffed cabbage roll recipe in the middle of her son’s baptism celebration!
If you’ve been anywhere near a large Hungarian family, then your guess is right – a passionate debate erupted among family members, each offering their unique version of the cherished recipe. (LOL)
It was such a hilarious event that almost threatened to cause a family feud. I’m so glad we’re able to laugh heartily about it now. 🤭
As for my dear tomato plant, the suggestions that poured in were:
- Not enough water
- Too much water
- Magnesium deficiency
- Blight infection
- Seasonal factors, and
- Lack of adequate air circulation
With four votes in favor of ‘blight,’ and the recommended solution; pruning, armed with shears and determination, I visited my garden this morning and started the painstaking process of trimming away the afflicted spotted leaves.
I decided to share this experience with you because I felt there are at least three valuable lessons to be learned:
1. Seeking the right guidance for your business is always going to be a combination of asking the experts the right questions, your personal experience, understanding the factors at play in it, and taking needful actions…
I’m saying this because, while the many suggestions that poured in for my tomato plant were well-intentioned, a cacophony of voices can quickly sow confusion.
Everyone offered some advice based on the limited information I provided and at the end, I had to do some research based on the recommendations I got, before making a final decision on how to proceed.
2. Nurturing your business demands a persistent effort in pruning away what no longer serves its growth…
I have to admit, I am reluctant at pruning. I know that I should make an effort to prune my plants more, but I often hesitate, for fear of harming them.
However, experience has demonstrated that pruning contributes to their overall well-being. And in this tomato plant’s case, it demanded the removal of the diseased leaves to facilitate proper respiration, and, ultimately, a flourishing plant.
Could there be areas in your business that are in need of pruning? Now might be a good time to start pruning them away.
3. Lastly, success in business is not derived from one singular grand gesture, but from healthy, little, consistent actions…
This hit me as I sat on the earthy soil in my garden, carefully trimming the tomato plant, leaf by leaf. I couldn’t trim back the entire plant at once, otherwise, I may end up killing it.
So, I did a little pruning today, and will go at it again tomorrow. And, maybe water it the day after with an Epsom salt bath. These little efforts may seem like nothing, but they’re ongoing steps I’m taking in hopes of saving my tomato plant.
And even if I’m not able to do that, then everything will be lessons I take into the next planting season.
I’m happy to say that both my tomato plant and business are doing okay and have already begun yielding fruits. Check out these beauties! 😍
I am so proud of myself for the results you see in the photo above, and resolute in my commitment to continue nurturing them both. And so, I ask you, which of these steps do you need to undertake today to give your business the chance it needs to survive?
If you’re not sure yet, then our 3-Day Strategic Planning and Mastermind Program: Momentum Live, happening in Havre de Grace, Maryland, from October 2-5, is the perfect time away you need to x-ray your business and develop new strategies for growth.
If you’ve been postponing registration, I urge you to consider how dedicating this time to your business could catalyze its growth and register today.
Until next time!
Love,
— Nettie Owens ♥
