As a child I distinctly remember watching acorns sprout. We would collect them and give them the right environment to grow in and before long would have a delightful green shoot bursting through the soil. This gave me great joy, annoyed my father, an avid gardener who wanted to avoid oak trees coming up in the garden.

There was a high degree of innocence in those days yet what I learnt is of greater significance to me today in many ways. In our lives there are many chances to watch things grow out of reproductive catalysts, children, pets, plants, and of course businesses.

The process
The basic process involves a seed, the correct amount of fertiliser, water and a medium in which the seed can germinate. In time the seed will sprout and push a green shoot skywards, the shoot has a goal to get to the sunlight, and there in the warmth of the growing medium the seed sets its goal to soak up the sunlight.

Before long the sprout is involved in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide as well as photosynthesis. Tiny immature leaves form feeble branches, the whole thing still tender green and very vulnerable to the forces of nature.

In time given the right environment the seedling will grow into a majestic tree, its branches and leaves spiralling out of the solid trunk. All going well the tree will last for many years and provide homes for animals, mulch for the soil from where it began. It will also provide a glorious golden glow in the autumn, and herald the new growth that spring brings.

Understanding the process
Businesses can be just like the Oak tree; they give and take so much. In the overall process it seems as if an even balance is required, taking and giving in equal proportion. Those that do prosper and grow, maximising their potential, practicing the law of sowing and reaping. They utilise all the items required to make their ‘oak tree’ grow, effective management, solid marketing and powerful operational development options. Knowing when to put into each and when to work on other areas when appropriate.

Often this process happens automatically for many businesses, however what would you do if it did not happen automatically? How would you gain information on when to sow seeds in business and when to reap in the harvest?

Many businesses understand that they need to make a profit to go beyond basic survival and thrive in a competitive business environment and so the laws of sowing and reaping become vital to this principle.

Creating a powerful business environment
For the acorn to grow it needs the right environment, and so the same with business, if there are no customers wanting what you have to offer then there can be no cash flow, without this there is no business.

In your business, it is important, indeed vital to have or create the right environment for things to grow and prosper. So how will you develop this, understand what your customers want and put plans in action to go from where you are today to where you want to be in the future?

Enjoying the beauty of nature’s gifts!
Nature provides us with wonderful gifts, before long if we abuse the environment we will end up with a range of environmental disasters as we are finding currently with the greenhouse situation and global warming.

If business analysts and market research people can predict the cycles and rhythms of business, economics patterns and customer needs. Then you can utilise the information to nurture the gifts of nature to create an effective business growth environment. Some would say they are creating a greenhouse to speed up the process of nature.

So consider for a moment what do you want? An Oak tree, or weeds that smother the garden?

Stumble it!