Saturday was a beautiful, abnormally warm March day in Southwest Virginia. The kids and I decided that we would plant some fruit, vegetables, and flowers. We decided on porch plants because I do not have a green thumb and we wanted to start with something small and idiot proof. I have yet to keep a plant alive, even the ones that people swore I couldn’t kill.
It’s not that I don’t like plants; I do. I think they are beautiful. I love to eat fresh fruit and vegetables. But for whatever reason, this whole watering thing baffles me, and I completely forget to water them.
We repotted Matthew’s third grade project, his oversized cabbage that will grow to be more than 40 pounds. We also planted strawberries, tomatoes, grape tomatoes, and sunflowers. But here is where I struggle. When I woke up this morning, there sat 7 pots that just had dirt in them – no buds, no blooms, and no sign of life.
As a society, we have come to expect things instantaneously. We have microwaves to cook meals faster, online banking to expedite money transfers, and email to eliminate the time it takes for a letter to make it through the Postal Service. As a whole, we want things now.
Our businesses are no different. We send out a direct mail piece and we want something from it immediately. We submit an article and expect the traffic soon thereafter. We submit our press release and expect some kind of coverage within a day or so. We hang out our open sign and become disappointed when we don’t have some sort of bite right away.
Here is what we fail to realize, and I’m just as guilty as the next guy. With our businesses, we must plant our seeds, nurture them, and provide them what they need to flourish before we will see the results – the fruits of our labor.
Consider the Revolution the Miracle-Gro of your VA business. We’ll be here to aid in the growing process, providing additional nutrients needed to thrive.
The next time you feel discouraged because you have put so much time and energy into your business and have nothing to show for it, stop and smell the roses. Then realize that they weren’t planted yesterday.
Until next time…
Heather
Thanks for the reminder, Heather! This is such an important thing to remember as a business owner… stay positive and keep working hard to create the business you’ve dreamed of. It will happen if you stick to it, but it probably will not be an overnight success. Thanks for the wisdom and encouragement, as always!
Great way to get this message out Heather. As a business owner already, but in a different profession, I know what it means to be patient and keep planting the seeds into our prospects’ minds. I’m looking forward to my VA business. To me it’s best to start getting out there and talk about what a VA does. This helps you feel comfortable with talking about it, and getting excited about this industry. Oh, and jealous because we are still under snow, and can’t wait until Spring hits…..in around May.
Heather, this is a great message as it is all too true! Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am not a patient person. I want everything now and I do everything possible to get it even if I’m being told that I can’t have it now. I think this comes from years of professional experience with outside vendors who forget who the customer is. There are several people that I have come across in our industry who motivates me, not even necessarily through direct contact or correspondence, but just how they run their biz and the way they help others with honest feedback and you are one of them. I cannot wait for the Revolution and to work with you more!!
Thanks for the reminder, I needed it today!
Patient people, I am not sure that I am one of them. Your message is inspiring, and right on the target. I tend to be a person that jugles multiple projects and tend to lose interest in the ones that don’t florish quickly. I am learning to take it slow and to make sure I do it right in the beginning inorder to have a good foundation for my projects. and am comfortable with the fact that it is going to take a good amount of time for my VA business to get up and running but that when it does it will be done correctly. Learning to alot time to each of my tasks each day and week and not just become encompassed totaly in one has helped me to not burn out in the early stages. And a big part of my serenity comes from places just like this, where I can connect with other VA’s.