Changing Seasons

How much attention do you pay to the weather and the accompanying seasons? Many I teach feel absolutely affected by the seasons and for good reason. The weather and earth as a whole, I am sure really affects us, from our moods to actual physical health (allergies, temperature, illness).
How do you feel when the season changes? Does it fill you with excitement or dread?
The seasons are also a metaphor for our lives. We have times when we need to plant seeds, toil the ground and prepare and moments in life where the fruits of our labour are ready to eat.
Which season are you in now?

If you are like me, the seasons of life come and go fairly quickly. We all live with faster changes and so having time to really prepare ourselves is often difficult to obtain. Everything feels more and more like it is being done 'on the fly'. This can be difficult to do, we are told so much that we have set plans and goals, organise our time and work steadily towards our desires and plans and then it will all work out. Until it doesn't. Failure is an option and often a great teacher. But so is patience.

Gary Vaynerchuck amongst others, mentions the long game and I couldn't agree with this more, especially when you change countries as I did nearly 4 years ago. It is interesting, when I meet people many say, wow, such a short time and others, wow 4 years. One of the learnings I have made here is how things do take time. My seasons are becoming longer here. I have planted my seeds and toiled the ground, but must wait for the harvest. I must see what nature brings and how it will work out. An example might be a free workshop or speech I do. Often we think people will come running up and business will start pouring in, but more than once, I have not had this happen until some 12 months after the event. I no longer get disheartened by such events when I deliver something for free, as I know it will eventually bring a return. The harvest will come.

I like giving and make sure that each time I do there is a small return to me. Something to learn, an experience to gain, new people to meet and to learn from others. This is becoming more important than immediate business as this improves my personal growth. I am developing my brand and my position in the market. People need to hear of me, perhaps more than once, before they begin to trust me and to be open to what I can provide. This is where patience comes in again.

So how can we develop patience in our business life? We can keeping planting seeds and connections. Hustling as Gary V calls it. Continue developing new connections with people and to see value in what others do. How can we help them, serve others and give freely? We often give expecting reward, but I am slowly changing my mindset and just trying to give without expecting in return. Showing a genuine interest in others also helps.

With the seasons changing so quickly both metaphorically and physically it can feel difficult to keep up. We simply perhaps, have to stay open and prepared. That way when opportunity for harvest comes, we are ready! Good luck creating your opportunities!