Lesson #2: Plant Yourself in the Right Soil
This is a picture of our side garden. As you can see, the hostas are thriving, the flowering baskets are blooming and the rose bushes are about to bud. All appears to be well in the Collamer garden.
Alas, all is not as glorious as it seems.
Sadly, what you don’t see amidst the healthy greenery are our rather pathetic clematis vines. They should be covering the trellises, but instead, they lie limp on the ground, barely hanging on to life. It hasn’t been for lack of effort; we’ve tried fertilizing (more and less), watering (more and less) and even checked the acid balance of the soil. We’ve been forced to conclude that there just isn’t enough sun in this spot to make the clematis grow.
Ironically, if I walk just a few yards down to my neighbor’s house, their clematis vine is growing like a weed. That plant comes back year after year, taller and stronger with each season. When I asked my neighbor what she does to make the plant so healthy, she laughed and said, “Not much, all it needs is some occasional watering.”
Isn’t it interesting how the same plant thrives in one location — while barely hanging on to life in another?
Set a plant in the right soil, with the proper sun exposure, and all is well. The plant grows quickly, blooms easily and radiates beauty. But when rooted in the wrong soil, the exact opposite happens. Growth is stagnant as the plant struggles to take hold.
I see the same thing happen with my clients. When they are “planted in the wrong soil” even the most determined of personalities face an uphill battle. No matter how hard they try to change and improve, when the fit is wrong, little can be done to alter their job satisfaction.
Yet when that same person moves into a better environment,they flourish. Their persona changes from sullen, confused and tentative — to that of a happy, productive and talented person. Almost overnight, the same person who was a “goat” at one employer becomes the hero at their new company. Best of all, when people are in their optimal environments, they shine and make the world around them brighter on every level.
Next time you’re feeling stifled at work, think about what you need to do to shine at work. Explore ways to make your situation more conducive to growth, and then give the changes time to take hold. If you ultimately conclude that the only way to make things better is to make a move, focus on situations where the culture, environment and personalities provide a nourishing blend of ingredients for success.
And one last thing, if you have any tips for a climbing vine plant that thrives in partial sun, do let us know!
Enjoy this? Here is the rest of the series:
Lesson #1: Getting Started is the Hardest Part
Lesson #2: Plant Yourself in the Right Soil
Lesson #3: If You’re a Sun Loving Plant, Find a Sun Loving Garden
Lesson #4: Don’t Wait to Reach for the Watering Can
Lesson #5: The Grass Always Looks Greener on the Other Side
Lesson #6: Say Goodbye to the Old – to Make Space for the New
Lesson #7: Take Time to Smell the Roses
Lesson #8: To Be the Best, Learn From the Best
Lesson #9: Expect the Unexpected
Lesson #10: To Everything There is a Season