The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur

September 27Seasons of Growth

Above all, we cannot afford not to live in the present. He is blessed over all mortals who loses no moment of the passing life in remembering the past. Unless our philosophy hears the cock crow in every barn-yard within our horizon, it is belated.

Henry David Thoreau—“Walking” (1861)

If you are reading this book chronologically, you are likely full on experiencing a change in the season to either fall or spring.

One of the lovely blessings of this annual exchange is that it makes it hard to ignore the natural emergence all around us—that tree that you pass every day now has bright red leaves, the park shows off yellow and orange blossoms.

There's even an official word for this—“phenology,” the study of the seasonal timing of life-cycle events.

And as surely as “May flowers bring June bugs,” there is a seasonal aspect to every entrepreneurial journey. The secret is to recognize your unique seasons and the time to grow with them. Emerge from planning, to discovering, to evolving, to growing. And then do it again and again until you're done (you're never done).

Recognize the signs. Note when your plans take life as you discover what works. Note when you start to understand your products, services, and customers at deeper levels—when you move from thinking to doing.

Growth is vaguely what every entrepreneur wants. The fact is that no one knows what growth looks like until they've come out the other end of it—and only then if they are paying attention ...