Author: Tommy Ryan

Success in the garden starts with understanding what a plant needs to thrive. It’s not one-size-fits-all; each vegetable has its own preferences. Some crave sun, others tolerate shade. Some like more water, others need careful drainage. The right mix of micronutrients, soil structure, and even nearby companion plants can make all the difference.

The same goes for people.

In the workplace, each team member thrives under different conditions. Some perform best with clear structure and predictability, while others flourish when given creative freedom and autonomy. One person may be energized by complex technical challenges, while another finds their strength in navigating people-centered dynamics. As leaders, our role is to observe closely and be intentional about how we align responsibilities, support, and challenges, dialing in the environment that helps each person do their best work.

This philosophy also extends to our clients. Every client relationship has its own unique chemistry. We’ve found that early and frequent sampling—quick check-ins, honest conversations—helps us determine if we’ve got the right match between our consultants and the client’s environment. When the fit is right, the results speak for themselves.

It’s a bit like companion planting. Certain crops thrive when planted side by side (see picture above). They support one another, enhance each other’s growth, and even offer protection from pests. We aim for the same kind of synergy in our client relationships—pairing consultants and clients in ways that bring out the best in both. When there’s the right chemistry, collaboration feels natural, communication flows more easily, and the outcomes are stronger. It’s not just about compatibility—it’s about creating an environment where both sides grow and succeed together.

This post first appeared on June 27, 2025 in Sowing Success, my weekly LinkedIn newsletter on leadership and organic farming. Read the original on LinkedIn.

In both the garden and the workplace, stress is inevitable—but not all stress is bad.

In the garden, the early stages of a plant’s life are crucial. When starting seeds or transplanting seedlings, the goal is to minimize stress. You want to give the plant just what it needs: not too much water or too little, enough light to prevent legginess, and nutrients to encourage root development—not overwhelm it. When you move it to the field, it’s best to do this at the end of the day, avoiding the direct heat of the sun. Water it in well, maybe even cover it for a bit to reduce transplant shock. Why all the care? Because if the plant can establish a strong root system, it can handle what’s to come.

Once a plant is grounded and growing, some natural stresses—like heat and limited water—can actually help. Grapes, for example, often taste better when the vines experience dry periods. That’s because the stress concentrates flavor. This “good stress” doesn’t weaken the plant—it strengthens its character.

The same applies to our teams. When someone joins a new company or steps into a new role, we shouldn’t expect them to thrive under immediate pressure. They need time and care to set roots. That might look like onboarding support, mentorship, and clearly defined expectations. If we rush this stage or expose them to unnecessary stress too early, we risk stunting their potential.

But once someone is established? That’s when the right kind of stress—the kind that stretches skills and challenges thinking—can lead to growth. Letting people struggle through a tough project or navigate a tricky situation on their own isn’t neglect; it’s trust. It’s how people develop depth, resilience, and character.

Whether it’s soil or company culture, the goal is the same: create the right conditions early on so that when the inevitable stresses come, they don’t break us—they make us better.

This post first appeared on June 20, 2025 in Sowing Success, my weekly LinkedIn newsletter on leadership and organic farming. Read the original on LinkedIn.

This week, I’m writing from Edisto Beach, SC—a place my family visits every year. It’s always striking how different this coastal ecosystem is from the soil and climate back home. The vegetation, the animals, even the rhythm of life is different. And every time I’m here, I find myself thinking: What would it be like to grow vegetables here?

The answer starts with understanding your environment. What grows well here? What role could I play in this local ecosystem that complements, rather than conflicts with, what nature is already doing?

On Edisto, cotton plantations and tomatoes thrive—not just by accident, but because they align with the region’s sandy soil, heat, and humidity. The tomatoes, in particular, have a flavor shaped by this unique climate. Trying to grow lettuce here year-round? That’s a losing battle. But a hearty tomato? Now that has potential.

That same lesson applies to business.

At ThreeWill, we often talk about “meeting clients where they are.” That means taking time to understand their soil and climate—their industry, their culture, their internal systems. If we don’t, we risk offering solutions that sound great on paper but don’t thrive in the real world of our clients.

Just like a gardener needs to respect the seasons and soil, we need to respect our clients’ ecosystems. That’s why we’ve made an intentional shift to focus on specific industries. When we know the region and soil of an industry—how decisions are made, how work gets done, what compliance and productivity really mean—we can design solutions that take root.

Whether you’re farming or building software solutions, the takeaway is the same: Don’t fight the ecosystem. Understand it. Work with it. Grow something meaningful.

This post first appeared on June 13, 2025 in Sowing Success, my weekly LinkedIn newsletter on leadership and organic farming. Read the original on LinkedIn.

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned in the garden is the importance of focus. When I pour my time and energy into mastering just a few crops—rather than spreading myself thin across dozens—I get better results. Not only do the vegetables thrive, but I also learn how to grow, market, and sell them in a way that builds momentum season after season.

Take Sun Gold tomatoes, for example. When customers know me for that Sun Gold—the one they crave all year—they come back looking for it again. But building that kind of loyalty takes time. If I switch varieties every season or try to grow everything under the sun, I risk confusing my customers and losing that hard-earned trust. The same goes for how I sell: if I’m constantly changing my offerings, I never give myself the chance to refine how I talk about the product and connect with my market.

I’ve found that herbs play a different role. They’re complementary—great add-ons, like basil or cilantro that ride alongside the main dish. But they’re not the focus. They don’t get the marketing energy or define the customer experience in the same way.

That principle of focus applies more than ever to my work at ThreeWill. We’re pushing ourselves to excel at one core service—to make it our signature offering – The ThreeWill Way. Around that, we offer a few strategic “side dishes”—services (we call them Quick Starts) that complement the main dish but don’t compete with it. This kind of focus lets us zero in on our marketing, speak directly to our ideal clients, and build stronger, repeatable outcomes.

We’re also focusing on three core verticals, which allow us to not just understand the most appropriate tech stack, but to deeply understand the business challenges and opportunities in those spaces. That level of depth only comes from focus.

Focus, of course, is easier said than done. It takes courage to trim your offerings. There’s always the temptation to cast a wider net. But I’ve found that trimming back is often what allows something to truly grow.

I’d love to hear from others—how are you striking the balance between being focused and staying flexible?

This post first appeared on June 6, 2025 in Sowing Success, my weekly LinkedIn newsletter on leadership and organic farming. Read the original on LinkedIn.

Today, I’m celebrating another trip around the sun—and with that, I’ve been thinking a lot about milestones.

At ThreeWill, we’ve always placed a high value on recognizing people, especially their years of service. We’ve built a culture that not only endures but thrives, and I couldn’t be prouder. It hasn’t happened by accident—it’s taken intentional care. From day one, we’ve focused on creating a healthy culture and, most importantly, surrounding ourselves with people who fit that culture.

These days, having team members with 20+ years at the same company is rare. Yet we’re fortunate to have several. What’s most rewarding isn’t just their loyalty—it’s seeing how they’ve grown, taken on new challenges, and stretched into roles that help us all evolve.

I’ve seen something similar unfold at Iron Mountain Organics. Each year, the soil gets a little richer, more alive. Through composting, cover cropping, and refusing to rely on synthetic herbicides or pesticides, we’ve let nature lead. And in doing so, we’ve built up soil that’s now more productive and resilient than ever before. Good soil, like a good culture, gets better with time—if you care for it the right way.

So today, I’m grateful. For the years, for the growth, and for the people and ecosystems that have matured alongside me. Whether it’s a team or a garden, milestones worth celebrating are always rooted in steady care, shared values, and time.

Here’s to seasons well-tended—and many more to come.

This post first appeared on May 30, 2025 in Sowing Success, my weekly LinkedIn newsletter on leadership and organic farming. Read the original on LinkedIn.

This week, I had the chance to sit down with Will Holland and reflect on the origin story of ThreeWill, the pivotal changes we had to make to survive, and how those changes are now fueling growth—for both our clients and our team.

As you can see in the photo above, I invited Will out to the garden—technically Iron Mountain Organics Garden Farm. It’s too big to be just a garden, and maybe still a bit small to call a farm, but it’s where I recharge. It’s where I get to be a co-creator with nature—nurturing life, restoring soil, and finding joy in the process. When I’m not working with our team, partners, or clients, this is where I find perspective.

What stood out from our conversation was how much EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) and operationalizing our core processes have enabled a healthier balance in my life—between leading ThreeWill, tending to the farm, and being present with my family. As we’ve improved how we run ThreeWill using EOS and Microsoft Teams, I’ve been able to shift from working in the business to working on it. Our team is better aligned, we’re rowing in the same direction, and while we’re far from perfect, we’re building something sustainable.

This personal transformation has inspired us to help other small businesses experience the same. We’re getting ready to roll out a new approach to our managed services—one that doesn’t just help companies “do more with Microsoft,” but ensures that technology investments are making a meaningful and measurable impact on the business because we align to their core processes.

We want business owners and their teams to feel confident that things are under control—so they can unplug, take real vacations, and be fully present with the people (and passions) that bring them joy. For me, that joy is found in the garden—co-creating with nature, embracing its rhythms, and remembering that healthy ecosystems—whether in soil or in business—take intention, care, and time.

This post first appeared on May 23, 2025 in Sowing Success, my weekly LinkedIn newsletter on leadership and organic farming. Read the original on LinkedIn.

In my garden, nothing brings me more satisfaction than seeing a vibrant variety of plants and animals thriving together. However, the true magic happens at the microscopic level—in the soil. Over the years, I’ve discovered the critical importance of nurturing a healthy soil ecosystem by avoiding tillage and actively building compost to feed and sustain it.

This same principle of fostering a healthy ecosystem applies equally to our workplaces. The recent ThreeWill Alliance Luncheon was an important reminder of how essential it is to cultivate and nurture a network of relationships outside our immediate team. This network acts as an extension of our team, effectively amplifying our mission—much like the mycorrhizal network underground, invisibly connecting and supporting plants by distributing nutrients and communication signals (provided you a link to the term mycorrhizae, which is a powerful ecosystem that most people are unaware of).

At ThreeWill, we deeply understand that true productivity solutions start with culture (your company’s ecosystem). A healthy organizational culture thrives on diversity, bringing together people who excel and find joy in various roles, from marketing and sales to solution delivery. Just as vibrant soil creates abundant gardens, a nurtured culture creates thriving, productive companies.

Let’s continue nurturing these healthy ecosystems, both in the garden and at work, recognizing that the unseen connections often hold the greatest power for growth and sustainability.

This post first appeared on May 16, 2025 in Sowing Success, my weekly LinkedIn newsletter on leadership and organic farming. Read the original on LinkedIn.

Life is too short not to find joy in what you do—both at work and beyond. I’ve discovered firsthand that meaningful engagement, whether it’s leading meetings, coaching my children’s soccer team, capturing moments as the cross-country photographer, or nurturing vegetables in my organic garden, is essential to a fulfilling life.

The true joy comes from pride in what you do and the relationships you cultivate. It emerges in moments as simple as connecting with colleagues during a pint night (see above) or as enriching as giving friends and neighbors a tour of my organic garden. These moments reaffirm the value of investing ourselves fully in our passions and commitments.

Admittedly, daily responsibilities like endless meetings and a crowded inbox can threaten to drain joy. However, when viewed as integral components of building a business that provides stability, purpose, and meaning for my team, these tasks transform into acts of service and contributions toward a greater good. This perspective shift helps me honor both the clients we serve and the incredible talents of our team.

Sustaining joy in hard work hinges significantly on your organization’s culture and mission. Neither remains static; both require ongoing effort and commitment. If your professional and personal endeavors aren’t bringing you joy, perhaps it’s time to reconnect with your company’s purpose—or invest energy in clarifying it.

Ask yourself: are you finding joy in your work and your passions outside the office? Life is too precious for the answer to be anything but a resounding yes.

This post first appeared on May 7, 2025 in Sowing Success, my weekly LinkedIn newsletter on leadership and organic farming. Read the original on LinkedIn.

At Iron Mountain Organics, one of the first signs I put up at the farmers market said: Co-conspirators with Nature.

It was a simple phrase, but it captured something profound—my role wasn’t to force the garden to grow. Nature already knew how to do that. My job was to support it. To notice when a tomato plant needed a stake to lean on. To guide a vine toward the sun. To nurture what was already designed for growth.

That same mindset shapes how I lead at ThreeWill.

Our people, like our plants, are wired for growth. They want to stretch, explore, and thrive. I believe our people want to “Choose to Succeed.” But they need the right environment—and sometimes a stake to lean on when things get uncertain.

🌱 Supporting growth means getting out of the way—without disappearing. It’s not about micromanaging. But it’s not hands-off either. It’s about being present behind the scenes: – Giving people room to try – Letting them make mistakes – Offering quiet coaching in moments that matter – Believing in what they’re capable of, sometimes before they do

As leaders, we’re not the ones doing the growing. We’re the ones preparing the soil, pulling the weeds, and gently tying things up so our teams can bear fruit.

That’s the kind of leadership I want to embody—on the farm and in the office. Still conspiring with nature. Just with a different kind of garden.

This post first appeared on May 2, 2025 in Sowing Success, my weekly LinkedIn newsletter on leadership and organic farming. Read the original on LinkedIn.

I recently had the joy of welcoming my friend and business peer, Brandon Lee, to spend a morning with me on my small-scale organic farm. What happened that day reminded me why I believe so deeply in integrating business with life.

Brandon didn’t come out to talk strategy or sales. He came out to experience a slice of my world—to turn compost, get bit by ants (sorry again, Brandon), and talk about the things that really matter. That compost pile is now cooking at 160°F, by the way. 🔥

What struck me most wasn’t just that he showed up—it’s that he cared. He stepped into my world not because it’s his passion, but because he wanted to know mine.

As a part of Brandon experiencing my passion, I learned more about his passion for creating herbal tinctures for natural healing. That moment sparked an unexpected collaboration: I can grow the dandelion root, elderberry, and lemon balm, and Brandon can work his alchemy to create healing tinctures to share with friends and family (I’ve got a feeling I’ll be on that list 😉).

In a world that often rewards hustle over heart, I’m learning to value the relationships that go deeper than a contract. The ones that grow organically—pun intended—when we let people see who we really are.

Let’s talk about it. What’s one way you’ve built a deeper business relationship through a personal passion? Whether it’s baking cookies, restoring cars, or growing tomatoes and lettuce—hit reply or comment and share your story.

Because life is too short for shallow connections.

This post first appeared on April 25, 2025 in Sowing Success, my weekly LinkedIn newsletter on leadership and organic farming. Read the original on LinkedIn.