Last week we looked at butterflies, so this week let’s look at flowers, growth, and photosynthesis.  Someone call Justin Timberlake, because I’m bringing sexy back.  Wait.  Did I say sexy?  I meant nerdy.  Definitely meant nerdy.  Get ready for some bodacious botany and funky flowers.

A flower doesn’t blossom by luck.  In order for a flower to blossom and grow it must undergo photosynthesis.  For photosynthesis to happen flowers need things like soil, water, carbon dioxide, and of course sunlight, which is the catalyst for the reaction.  During photosynthesis, the flower takes in sunlight, which starts a reaction that results in the flower producing sugar that becomes energy to feed its transformation.  Essentially, the flower absorbs the things from its surroundings in order to go through an INTERNAL process to change.  The flower can only develop and grow if it goes through this INTERNAL process.

What does photosynthesis have to do with our development?  Think about how we develop ourselves.  We can learn things from our day to day work and we can also do external things like read books, view TED talks, take courses, attend leadership conferences, etc.  If you think of the flower metaphor these developmental opportunities are like water, soil, and carbon dioxide.  They give us the potential to develop, but they do NOT guarantee growth.  In order to grow we need sunlight to go through our own photosynthesis.  I’d argue that our sunlight is time and our photosynthesis is reflection.  We need to be deliberate to set aside dedicated time to really reflect on what we have experienced, so we can go through our own INTERNAL process and transform everything we have soaked up into energy to power our growth.

Every day we are exposed to the key components that could lead to tremendous growth.  In a world that is extremely busy, it’s too easy to miss these chances.  It’s too easy to rely on something external to make us grow.  The fact is that growth comes inside from all of us. 

The challenge: Are you taking the time to go through your own version of photosynthesis so you can grow?   

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry