Running a Business is Like Gardening

Having had a busy week, I was only too happy to don my gardening clothes and get outside to do some planting, weeding and pruning last weekend. �It�s interesting�, I thought, �how business refers to a slight improvement as the green shoots of recovery�. I then began to think of other gardening analogies that could be applied to business. OK so now I�m being a bit sad and if I can�t just go outside and enjoy the air, maybe I should stay in more! But hang on, this can be a useful exercise. Think about it. If you �can�t see the wood for the trees� in your business but gardening is easier to relate to, then look at how you tackle your garden and how you could apply the same principles to your business.

First of all you need a plan of what you�re going to grow and where (Your business plan - what are you going to do and who is your target market). Maybe that plant you put over in that shady corner is dying off so you may need to cut your losses and dig it up (that line of business is losing money). The border flowers would do a lot better if there weren�t all of those weeds (too many strands to the business) and every time you go to the shed to get your tools out there�s so much clutter you either can�t find what you�re looking for or it all falls out of the shed (desk clutter).

Of course, once you�ve done your planting, you�ll need to be vigilant about the watering otherwise nothing will grow, and before you know where you are your annuals and shrubs will die off (marketing). Having said that, you will need to have time to sit back and observe your garden. It�s great watching your plants grow and it�s often when you�re just enjoying that lazy hour that some new ideas will suddenly present themselves about how you could make that border more interesting or build a rockery over there. (Time out to think and come up with creative business ideas). And of course periodically you will have to do some heavy pruning and remove all the deadwood (review the business procedures, are they still serving you well?).

I guess there are many more comparisons between gardening and business but I�ve got to go and inspect my new enterprise - the fruit and veg patch!

Pam Stokes is a Business & Personal Development Coach. Besides coaching, she provides interactive online courses for busy people, mentors newly qualified and trainee coaches, and runs workshops in stress management and NLP. Free downloads are available at http://www.pamstokesassociates.co.uk