Are the Conditions Right
After the chaos of prepping for the grad party of the century subsided, I was taking a walk around our property when I noticed a pumpkin patch starting to grow. Odd, since I never planted pumpkin seeds. We have a compost pile on our property, and I used the soil from it in the spring to plant raspberry bushes; however, 3 different pumpkin patches started to take root from seeds that I did not purposefully plant. I recalled last fall I purchased small decorative pumpkins when our daughter begged us to host a homecoming party, and I disposed of them in the compost pile, nearly 9 months ago...also about the same time that I was notified of my layoff. Could this be the source of the pumpkin patch?
I wonder, if the pumpkin seeds would have laid buried in the giant mound of compost, would they have grown? Not all seeds that are planted grow and not all flowers will produce fruit. Specific conditions must be met for growth to occur. Like my pumpkin patch, sometimes, you must be uprooted from your comfortable pile, placed in fertile soil with sunlight and water, be pollinated by another living being, and then the seed will grow and flourish. It’s not lost on me that I may be a pumpkin seed. I didn’t mind staying comfortably planted in my corporate job for 22 years but wasn’t always planted in fertile soil. While I pride myself on experimenting and trying new things, I wasn’t willing to leave the life I knew for two decades. My biggest cheerleader, my husband, reminds me frequently that I would never have left on my own and now is my chance to bet on myself.
Building the Scaffolding
If you know me, you know my obsession with Adam Grant. In his book, Hidden Potential, he introduces a concept he refers to as scaffolding. It’s meant to be a temporary structure, an external support system required to keep moving forward. I have spent the past 9 months building my scaffolding. Just as my pumpkin vine is using the trees, bushes, and weeds to grow its fruit further from the ground, I am building the support systems needed to step out on my own. I started by having conversations with others who have been in my shoes and now are forging their own path. They have graciously shared their knowledge, what went well and what didn’t, and are giving me an amazing opportunity to launch with a safety net. I embraced vulnerability and asked several people I trust to be on my “board”. Their main job is not just to help build the scaffolding and mentor me but to challenge my very creative ideas and be the voice of reason. While I know that climbing the temporary scaffolding may be scary at times, I’m putting my trust in those individuals who are providing the support I need to grow.
Like the pumpkin patch and with a bit of nourishment from my cheerleading squad and strong support network, I hope to flourish as I venture out on my own. Some of my ideas will not produce fruit as they won’t be pollinated but some will.
Have you built the scaffolding you need to make your next move?
