Unleashing Your Remarkable Potential
Issue 6.19 - May 11, 2009 - ISSN: 1551-6571

In Kevin's Own Words

The Best Things to Plant in Your Life

Spring is the time of the year I miss my kidhood the most. Growing up on a farm the spring brought many activities and tasks, but my favorite was preparing the soil and planting a crop.

There are two truths of planting that all farmers know. First, you must plant the seeds that you want to harvest. You can't plant pumpkin seeds and expect corn to grow!

Second, you don't plant one kernel of corn to harvest just one kernel in the fall. You plant expecting - knowing, really - that you will harvest much more than you plant.

You may not have spent hours in the tractor seat, but you have planted something in your life and I know you understand what I am saying.

This article really isn't a lesson about planting a crop - at least not a crop of plants. This article is about planting other things in life - planting the things that we want to grow in our lives and organizations.

Every winter Dad would study and decide which varieties would be best in the fields, and Mom would study the seed catalog to decide what to plant in the garden.

Now I'm suggesting you do that sort of planning too. Consider what follows to be your seed catalog.

Things to Consider Planting in Your Life

As I've already said, we should only plant the things that we really want to grow, blossom and flourish in our lives. Consider this as a starter list . . .

Plant ideas. Ideas can grow and provide new opportunities, improvements and greater success.

Plant belief. Belief in your future, belief in the potential of others, belief in success. The more belief you plant, the more will be in your life.

Plant confidence. Confidence in others and confidence in yourself.

Plant people. Want those around you to grow? Give them opportunities and a chance to do exactly that! Put people in situations and opportunities to grow towards their potential.

Plant positive attitude. Would you rather live and work in a positive environment or a negative one? Someone must plant the seeds of positivity - why not you?

Plant a goal. Start by writing it down, then go to work to help it come to a full harvest. Think bumper crop!

Once gardeners plant seeds, they know they can't just ignore the plants. Your seeds will need to be nurtured and cared for. Just like the farmer or gardener, we must nurture and fertilize what's been planted.

In these cases, the best fertilizer will come in the form of time, attention, resources, focus and encouragement. When you nurture the seeds, you will create much, much more from the single seeds you've planted.

You may have more than one crop planted in your garden - which is absolutely OK - just make sure you plant only the things you want more of in your life. Remember that if you don't plant, something will still grow (also known as weeds).

Remember too that planting the things you want requires time, effort and thought - but without time, effort and thought you will surely have a harvest of weeds.

The things we are talking about can be planted anytime, but there is no time like the present - spring or not - to get started.

Potential Pointer: Every farmer knows you must plant the seeds that you want to harvest. The same is true in the rest of our lives. Make the decision to plant the things in your life that you want to grow and see blossom. You are the gardener and the choice is up to you!

Kevin's Recommends

Did Lincoln Own Slaves?
And Other Frequently Asked Questions About Abraham Lincoln
by Gerald J. Prokopowicz

Interest in Abraham Lincoln is high right now - thanks in part to references made by now President Obama during the campaign and since 2009 is the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth.

Lincoln is the fourth most written about person in history behind Jesus Christ, Shakespeare and the Virgin Mary, and there are a flood of new books about all facets of his life.

I've read several books on Lincoln over the years (including Team of Rivals which I recommended some time back), but this one is the broadest in coverage and most fascinating in approach. (The fact above about his popularity with authors comes from the book.)

As the title suggests, the book is written in Q & A format and many of the questions have been specifically asked of the author, a noted Lincoln historian. The book covers every part of Lincoln's life: his childhood, early life, as a politician, as President, as Commander-in-Chief, as a Man, his legacy and much more.

More than just a collection of answers, since this is written by a historian everything is well documented and offers opportunities to learn more about any point he makes if you so choose.

I enjoyed it as an accessible, easy-to-read book about everything that made Lincoln who he was. It helps put his leadership skills and shortcomings in a fresh and understandable perspective.

On top of that, it's fun to read - the author, more than knowledgeable, is insightful and funny.

If you want a way to learn more about the man consistently considered the Greatest American President (details on this point on page 232), this may not be the only thing to read, but it's a fun and enjoyable piece of that study.

I found this book at Costco by serendipity (if you are a Costco member you may know the experience), and I'm glad I did. While I have read it cover to cover, I didn't do it all at once. It has sat by my bed, and I've read it in small pieces over several weeks. If you read like that, or like to have something else around to be reading, this book fits that bill too.

If you are a student of history, Lincoln, leadership or all three, or are just curious about any of these, I highly recommend this book.

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