by Mary Ellen Burley

Created on: July 27, 2007   Last Updated: April 01, 2009

It appeared to be an ordinary day in my ordinary life. Then I decided to work in the garden. I wandered out there overwhelmed by the chaos of my financial life and in spite of my education and intelligence, I was woefully underemployed and in deep debt.

"I just don't get it," I muttered to the roses as I weeded with a ferocity meant to stay the flow of tears. "How can I succeed in the business world?" In a flash the answers flowed in what I now call the Business 101 course I learned from my garden. That day I learned some rules of the business world distilled to some basics that mimic the laws of nature apparent in the garden:

There is an ebb and flow to moneyjust like the rain to a garden.
There are seasons to business and each season has its tasks and harvest.
Persistence is the magic that makes it all come together.

My analytical mind jumped at the prospect of deciphering this quick gem of knowledge. "Ebb and flow," I mused. So windfalls of money are like floods of rain if you are not prepared your efforts will wash away.
The ebb times (read lack of income) are meant as times to perform all the mundane tasks that need to be in place in order to benefit from the flow. It was spring and the spring garden needed soil amendments.
As I rototilled the soil with compost I thought about the beginnings of my career as a consultant. I already knew that nature abhors a vacuum, so fill I filled in my Outlook calendar with business-related activities as soon as the tiller was back in the garage.
Next I planted seeds and seedlings and then sat at my computer and prepared flyers, advertisements, and brochures. "You must keep the seedbed damp for at least 10 days," I remembered reading so after I finished watering first thing every morning, I dressed in my business clothes and went around town with my marketing materials.
"Set rain barrels under your downspouts," which I did just before I opened up a business bank account. "Pull those weeds as soon as they appear or they will overtake the desirable plants." Each day I silently weeded out those negative thoughts of not being good enough so the business opportunities would be attracted to me like a magnet to iron.
"Trust that you don't have to worry over every little seedling to make it grow," meant realizing that I'd make some mistakes but that's okay did I really think that sunflowers would grow in the shade?! "Honesty is the best policy." and since I didn't believe in the use of chemicals, I stuck to an organic, albeit more costly methodology believing that the future is affected by what I do now.
As the first assignments came my way I gave my best to it and have since reaped the benefit of a great reputation, which to the big picture, is priceless.
"Be happy and enjoy the work" was the last thought of that first day because that will make your garden grow in an abundant proliferation of blooms. With its annual progression it will change and mature into a very profitable endeavor.
Gardening is hard work and I got scratched, bruised, and covered with rashes as I labored outside. But I am a gardener and a business consultant. Nowadays I have plenty of time to enjoy the garden of my home that I own free and clear, as I continue to learn the subtleties of nature and business intertwined.

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