You have seen those homes. They are brand spanking new. Clean slate. And seemingly overnight they roll out grass and perfect shrubbery as if they added water and birthed instant landscaping. It looks great. But, roots still have to take hold. It is certainly one way to do it. But, I’ve just never been an “add water” person philosophically.
My garden is an ever-changing experiment. I try to visualize a result, trying to estimate what the plants will look like when full grown. But, weather, location and sometimes neglect causes that plan to be altered. So I plant something else. Will it take hold? Will it look fabulous and seem to fit seamlessly into the look of my garden? The perennials that put down roots and fit right in are the ones I anticipate each year with excitement. But, it has taken time. Lots of time is needed to establish those returning plants. The satisfaction of success and the beauty of the result keep me trying something new and nurturing the established plants year after year.
I was weeding the other day and my thoughts wandered about this ongoing process I have with gardening, I was thinking it was not much different from blogging. Sure you can add water and have this great looking blog. But, I feel gaining an audience and creating ongoing content is something that must be nurtured over time. Ask any long-time blogger, even someone that has only been at it hard for a few months and they will tell you it is a process and commitment to cultivate your blogging voice and gain your audience. You start and the process takes hold and sometimes seems to grow its own direction, nurtured by your audience.
You know the business model. Venture capital backed start-up. Unproven fantastic idea that contracts a communications team to create a logo and a slick website. Add water and you have this slick business persona. Certain aspects of business will always take time to grow. Instant success is rare. You had better be ready to be flexible, to listen, sharpen you model based on what you customer wants and deliver. Something is not clicking? When the plant dies, you try a new plant. You move things around to establish roots and try something fresh. Even better, to re-purpose or be inspired by what someone else is growing.
Wanna blog?! What are you waiting for? The perfect landscape? Plant your seed now. Grow it by writing and not being afraid of the results. I know a lot of seasoned bloggers that are shaking their heads ‘yes.’ Thanks to all who read and encouraged me to plant my seeds. You are my sunshine.
