Grow and Flourish

Team Building

Two years ago in September, we bought the house in which we currently live. From the outside, the house was a burnt orange color with the same color trim. Apparently there was a sale on the color, because ours was one of 3 houses in a row with the same paint scheme. Awful!

The yellow/brown tile and oak cabinets throughout were testament to a house built really well in the 1970’s that had seen no updates. Still, we liked the place. Below the house were 12 fruit trees that had wilted in the late July sun with no one to water them. Having always wanted fruit trees, I returned at least once a week while we were in escrow to try and save them.

Last Spring, I watched as the trees began to leaf out. I was disappointed at the lack of fruit. To make matters worse, we were forced to transplant all but 4 trees during the Summer to make way for the pad for our new garage.

I dug the holes extra deep and put in good soil. I soaked them religiously every few days. I pruned them so that they wouldn’t have to support extra foliage. Even then, I didn’t hold out much hope that they would survive because of the time of year we had to re-plant them.

As Winter grew to a close this year, I watched for buds. Our apricot and avocado were both showing signs of leafing, but the others seemed lifeless.

I wasn’t sure what would happen, but one by one, they leafed and blossomed. Every tree is not only carrying fruit, they are absolutely flourishing.

Just like my trees had to fight to survive, I know others are also facing challenges everyday…maybe they are with substances, mindset, depression, relationships, health, and/or finances.

Making sure you nourish yourself with water and good soil is crucial. The people and situations who you surround yourself with makes a huge difference. Trimming those pieces of you that drain your resources, so that you can focus on those pieces that you want to grow is also important. In this way, you can focus your growth. Just as my fruit trees are reaching toward the sun, you can reach toward your potential growth.

I am under no impression that growth is easy. If it is too easy, the growth may not be genuine or lasting. But I do have faith that every person has an area that deserves attention, and that every person has the strength to affect change.

• What are your challenges at this point in your life?
• How can you view these challenges as growth opportunities? And, how can you make this mindset consistent?
• What is a piece of you that needs to be pruned? How could you redistribute this extra energy?

As my mentor Paul Martinelli says, “Your dreams can’t grow in infertile soil.”

Have a great week,

Chuck Ross

John Maxwell Certified Coach, Trainer, Speaker, and DISC consultant

chuckross.net

Author: Change? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!?

530-277-6161

“They themselves are makers of themselves.” James Allen

Invisible Barriers

Team Building

Here in Northern California, we have been enjoying an unusually dry and warm Spring. While the threat of impending drought is very real, it has not stopped us from enjoying the breezy afternoons. We enjoy opening up our sliding glass doors to enjoy the deck shaded by our Oaks and Pines.

Last weekend, on a breezy afternoon, a Hummingbird flew into our living room. It flew through one of the open sliding glass doors, hovered by the motionless ceiling fan and immediately tried to fly back out through the triangular window above the slider which doesn’t open.

I watched the scared little bird check the entire window, trying to figure out what kind of wizardry was keeping him from freedom. Hoping he would look elsewhere for a way out, I completely opened the sliding glass door just 2 feet beneath him.

Seeing that he wanted to stay high, I got my ladder and crept up with a small towel to try and capture him. He took evasive maneuvers, flying to the next window over. Again, I opened the sliding glass door beneath and climbed my ladder. This time, the little bird was so exhausted that he sat on the sill with no choice but to let me scoop him up. He definitely struggled and chirped his discontent, but when I had him outside and released my grip, he flew away happily.

I thought about the challenges that face the organizations I work with. Many times have they found a solution, only to be turned away by a major barrier. They adjust, trying to move toward that same solution, but to no avail. They become stuck.

We owe it to ourselves and our organizations to keep our eyes open to new ways of solving problems.

Incidentally, just outside the 2nd sliding glass door was a hummingbird feeder. Not only could the little bird have escaped with this option, he also would have found a welcome treat.
• How often do you force yourself into the same window or path that we have struggled with before, blind to the freedom that is so near?
• What are the resources available to you that may allow you to see alternatives to your normal solutions?
• What daily practices can you create that encourage more creative thinking when challenges arise?
Have a great week!

Chuck Ross
John Maxwell Certified Coach, Trainer, Speaker, and DISC consultant
chuckross.net
Author: Change? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!?
530-277-6161

“They themselves are makers of themselves.” James Allen