This beautiful morning in paradise found me as usual, checking for new sprouts in my gardens. I still marvel at what can happen over night, even this late in the year. One day there is nothing, then suddenly the next day, tender little green sprouts have pushed up out of the soil and have made their presence known. I try each day to either plant a new seed, or package of seeds, so that each day something new is coming to life. This morning while I was doing just that. I began to think of the importance of planting the seeds of life.
Several things occurred to me. One was that it not only applied to seeds, in a horticultural way, but that it was equally as important to plant seeds of life into those around you.
Although, I have always had horticultural interests, they had pretty much remained on hold for 25 years, while I was in the Marine Corps. During a good part of that 25 years though, I found myself planting seeds of life without really recognizing that I was doing just that. Thinking back on that period of time, I do know now that many were planted.
The act of conceiving children involves the planting of seeds. Raising those children surely involves the planting of seeds in their minds each day, and watching them develop. As a Marine, when you have reached a position of leadership, you plant seeds again, in the minds of your troops. You teach them the basic elements and watch them develop into leaders themselves. As you attain top leadership positions, you are always listening, evaluating, and yes again planting seeds in those around you to achieve good morale within, and efficient operation of, the unit. This, the most important part of the unit's job, the accomplishment of its assign mission. You are responsible for all those below you...their morale and well being, their function within the unit, that they are treated firmly but fairly, that they are rewarded for outstanding performance of duty, understanding their problems and offering a sincere ear when needed. I found myself at times having to be a father, a mentor, a marriage counselor, a legal advisor, and a friend. I had an equal responsibily to my commanding officer. I had to keep in informed of the situation, as I saw it through my eyes, that existed within the unit. I was obligated to offer advice to him on how to approach all enlisted matters. Because the Sergeant Major of an unit is often older in years than the commanding officer, he finds sometimes that he must plant some seed in his mind.
I found, that the planting of seeds is a great responsibilty of all leaders. As a business owner you are daily trying to motivate employees. You are planting seeds to grow your business...and you are watching to see if they develop. I guess that there are many other examples of seed planting in business but I feel that with some thought...it becomes quite obvious what they are.
Now that I am retired, I find myself again planting those seeds. Planting the seeds, not out of any written oblegation, but just because I want to. I find also that I am enjoying this planting more because I can spend the time to enjoy the fruits of those seeds.
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