Hi again! My name is still Alan. I’m still with Cisco Meraki. 
But, I want to talk about something completely different. I want to talk about gardening.

So, there’s an amazing quote by Alexander Den Heijer that goes like this… “When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.” When I first came across this quote, it really resonated with me. But, some folks expressed different perspectives. For example…

Some were of the opinion that you should find a different flower — one that can thrive in your garden.

Others questioned why the flower is "entitled" to special treatment. All the other flowers are doing just fine. Why should we treat this flower any differently?

These perspectives are valid, but both of these perspectives come from a fixed mindset. They assume the garden cannot or should not be changed to accommodate the flower. But, I contend that to be a successful gardener, you really need to take on a GROWTH mindset. You need to believe that the flower can actually bloom. And, you have to want it to happen, which shouldn’t be hard. You chose the flower. It’s this belief and desire that should motivate you to invest time and energy into making your garden a place where the flower can thrive.

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…when a gardener pays attention to the unique needs of every individual flower, the results can be spectacular! Just look at how vibrant this garden is. THAT is the gardener’s reward — seeing the flowers thrive, knowing what it took to enable each of them to bloom.

Hopefully, by now, you realize that I’m not talking about flowers. Just to be clear, I’m going to drop the metaphor… Folks, the flower is a person with potential to grow. The garden is a team with potential to perform. And the gardener is the person who enables the individuals on the team to reach their full potential together by tending to everyone’s unique needs. So, let me ask, …

…who is your gardener? And, whose gardens are you tending?

Thanks!

 One last thing. I came here to connect with as many of you as possible. So, if you’re in the market for a new role, or you’d just like to continue the conversation, please grab your camera and connect with me on LinkedIn via this QR code. You’ve got 10 seconds starting now! Thanks!