Refuse to Die

Each spring and summer I fill my back patio with pots filled with colorful annuals. Some summers there are two dozen pots filled with blooming things. This year I was less inspired due to the early onslaught of very hot weather. Which followed the very cold winter we had. Normally, my habit of bringing the pots into the garage for the winter works really well and quite a few flowers make a showing a second year. That didn’t happen this spring. In fact, I lost everything in every pot. When it came time to replant, I dutifully cleaned out all the stems and started fresh.

Time passes, and imagine my surprise when I walked by a window two days ago and was intrigued by a bright orange glint through the hot pink hydrangeas! When I went out to get a closer look I discovered that a little zinnia seedling had somehow not only survived the winter, but was thriving alone in a giant pot still sitting at the back of the patio. It was saying to the world, “I refuse to die.” What a clever and brave little fellow, proudly proclaiming itself with a very vibrant orange. No shy wallflower here. And being the clever little person that I am, I saw how this was a statement about business. (you were wondering how I was going to get to the business point…)

Last year was such an amazing year for my business. I saw growth in every direction, pulled up a lot of [weeds] that weren’t fitting for me, applied lots of [fertilizer] for new growth, [watered] well with inspiration and education, and was not willing to be stuck in a copy cat business that didn’t suit me. This spring found me a little dormant, but refusing to just sit and do nothing about it, I am figuring out new and better ways to share my passions and strengths with others. It’s a grand ride, and the results are so worth the effort.

Take a good look and weed out those things that just don’t fit you or your business anymore. Surround yourself with inspiration, motivation, and strong individuals that want to help you succeed. So, like that brilliant orange zinnia standing by itself in that big pot, you will move forward with happiness, confidence, and new found strength that others may not have known you possessed.