When I am out in the garden, I am reminded how often the work mirrors what I do in business. One of the metaphors I return to again and again is the simple idea of planting a seed. In the garden, seeds are intentional. We choose varieties that we hope will thrive, and we place them where light, soil, and space support their purpose. Some seeds will grow into vegetables to harvest. Others help pollinators. A few create protection as a hedgerow. Every seed has a role.
The same pattern shows up in our work lives. We plant seeds in the minds of our teams when we share a vision for the company. We plant seeds with potential partners when we explore what might be possible together. We plant seeds with prospects who may not be ready today but could become long term relationships that serve both sides.
The part that challenges me most is asking myself if I am planting the right seeds and if I am prepared to nurture what may grow. Every seed has requirements. Some need daily attention. Some need patience. Some will rest quietly under the surface for months before any sign of growth appears. It reminds me that leadership takes clarity and discipline. We must know what we want to harvest in two or three years, or the wrong seeds will fill the space.
This is why focus matters. When we plant without intention, we could create weeds. When we plant with purpose, we build something that can nourish a whole community.
So here is the question I keep asking myself. Am I planting the right seeds in my relationships? The seeds I sow today are already shaping what will be possible a few years from now. My hope is that I stay intentional about what I want to grow and faithful to the work of tending each relationship as it begins to rise toward the light.
This post first appeared on November 15, 2025 in Sowing Success, my weekly LinkedIn newsletter on leadership and organic farming. Read the original on LinkedIn.
