In our last newsletter, I reflected on the importance of setting a sustainable pace—how real growth, whether in business or in nature, depends on rhythms that support long-term health and productivity.
This time, I want to look at the ebb and flow of balance itself—and how being out of balance is not something to fear, but something to navigate.
Spring Is Not Balanced. And That’s the Point.
On the farm, spring is beautiful chaos. The pace quickens, and the usual routines get turned upside down. Sleep gets sacrificed, muscles get sore, and everything becomes urgent. The days feel long because they have to be. If you don’t hustle now, nothing will grow later.
The same thing happens in business.
Recently, we’ve been building out new service offerings. It’s exciting, but it’s required stepping outside of our comfort zone—taking on extra hours, stretching capacity, and navigating new challenges daily.
At the same time, we’ve been navigating a strategic pivot—shifting from how we’ve always done business toward a model we believe is more sustainable and valuable for the future. But here’s the catch: during the transition, we have to operate in both models. Different sales pitches. Different delivery approaches. Double the mental load.
Sometimes we also get hit with something completely outside our control—like losing a client due to an economic shift, policy change, or a shift in technology. It’s a gut punch. And it throws things out of balance fast. Suddenly, we’re backfilling work we thought was solid, filling gaps to keep things steady while also pressing forward.
Balance Isn’t a Constant—It’s a Rhythm
These moments are uncomfortable—but they’re also necessary. Growth rarely happens when everything is neat and tidy. In both farming and business, we push hard in one season so we can rest and restore in another.
I’ve come to appreciate that balance isn’t something you achieve and then keep. It’s something you move in and out of. What matters is learning how to return to center.
Some things that help me rebalance:
- A quiet early morning walking the rows of the garden.
- Reflecting with the team on what we’ve learned—even in the chaos.
- Saying “no” more often so I can say “yes” to the right things.
- Celebrating progress, not just perfection.
Growth Requires Both
Whether it’s responding to an unexpected frost or a shift in client demand, disruption comes with the territory. These moments test you—but they also prepare the ground for what’s next.
So here’s to leaning into imbalance when the season calls for it—and trusting that balance will follow.
This post first appeared on April 4, 2025 in Sowing Success, my weekly LinkedIn newsletter on leadership and organic farming. Read the original on LinkedIn.
