Core Insight
I continue to be amazed by some of the plants growing in the field this year. They came up on their own, and they are doing far more than surviving. They are truly thriving.
The zinnias have been the best example. I must have 50 that came up from seeds left by last year’s flowers, along with some small sunflowers that seem to be making a habit of returning through self-sowing. Letting those plants mature and go to seed has given me another season of color without starting the whole process over myself.
The only thing I have done with these volunteers is relocate some of them to other parts of the field. Nature handled the starting, and I found a few places where I wanted to see that growth continue. There is something humbling about enjoying such a beautiful result and realizing how little of it required my involvement.
It has me looking for more ways to incorporate perennials, like my fig and blueberries, alongside annuals that sow the next generation themselves. I like the idea of building on what is already established. Each season can carry something forward into the next.
That same thought has been rolling around in my head at ThreeWill. I am trying to get better at communicating what I need from the team, making sure the direction is clear, and then getting out of the way. There is a lot of ability, judgment, and creativity that deserves room to do its work.
Of course, I still like to meddle from time to time. When something catches my curiosity, I enjoy getting involved and helping craft it with the team. Our emerging operational dashboard product is a good example. I am interested in what we are creating, and I enjoy being part of that work.
I think the challenge for me is recognizing when my involvement is helpful and when I need to give an idea more room to develop. Curiosity can lead to good collaboration. It can also make it tempting to keep putting my hands on something that is already growing well.
The zinnias are giving me a pretty good reminder to pause and notice the difference.
Three Concrete Details to Notice
1. Letting something mature can create the next season of growth.
Last year’s zinnias had the opportunity to go to seed, and this year I am enjoying what followed. It makes me think about giving people and their ideas enough time to develop. If I keep stepping in and reshaping the work, I may miss what the team would have grown on its own.
2. A little thoughtful help can be enough.
I moved some of the plants to other parts of the field, but I did not need to direct every part of their growth. At work, I want to be more thoughtful about the help that is actually needed. Sometimes that means clarifying an expectation, talking through a challenge, or helping remove something that is slowing the team down. Then I need to leave room for people to carry the work forward.
3. My curiosity needs to leave room for ownership.
I enjoy helping shape our operational dashboard, and there is value in working through ideas together. I also want the team to have room to bring their own thinking and make decisions. That asks something of me: to be clear about what we need to accomplish and thoughtful about how much of the approach I need to prescribe.
Simple Closing Thought
Where might something already be growing well without needing more of your involvement? I am asking myself that question in the field and at work, especially when I feel the urge to jump in.
Those zinnias are making a convincing case for giving growth a little more room. I am enjoying what they are teaching me, even if I still need the occasional reminder to get out of the way.
Keep growing. Keep learning.
Farmer Tommy.
This post first appeared on September 18, 2026 in Sowing Success, my weekly LinkedIn newsletter on leadership and organic farming. Read the original on LinkedIn.
