What do Growing Walnuts and Growing a Business have in common?
Every morning, for several years, Flo (now deceased, ~~sad) & I walked approximately 5 miles.
Before we moved to our home in Corning, California on the Sacramento River, we walked back & forth through the Almond and Walnut Orchards behind our 
Ranch in Orland CA.
The walk was prompted by my coronary and has become an hour+ of the most enjoyable part of my day.
Flo was able to chase the wild turkeys, and jackrabbits, stare down the fox, and watch the deer. I think she walked-ran 10 miles.
The most fascinating thing at that time was watching a freshly planted (February 2007) Walnut Orchard blossom from a field of white painted “sticks” to a 20-acre stand of stately Walnut trees, some 13 feet tall in 2010!!
These trees were nurtured daily, constantly tied and pruned during their first year.
However, the real reason for their explosive growth was the preparation of the planting environment.
(Building the Foundation)
The ground was ripped deep for drainage, holes were dug 4 feet x 4 feet, back-filled with amendments and then the Twigs (walnut stock cuttings) were placed in the well-worked ground.
A small hole dug in un-worked and un-amended ground would not have yielded the size of tree we found in the Video below.
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH GROWING YOUR BUSINESS AND YOUR BUSINESS MINDSET?
The opportunities offered today in the Small Business, Networking Marketing, and Home-based Business world are staggering.
Most companies are ethical and offer fine products, reasonable
compensation plans and are usually well managed.
Why is it then, the attrition rate is so high?
BECAUSE:
- No one addresses the preparation stage of starting the business.
- Everyone wants to “get going now” and make a million overnight.
- Few are willing to invest the TIME, ENERGY, and Capital to build the foundation.
The only reason the Walnut Trees did so well, is that the farmer spent time and money, preparing the soil and is spending a bundle in the early stages to keep those trees growing properly, even though there won’t be any income for several years.
Walnut Orchard 2014
Want to grow a Solid Business?
Take heed from my successful Neighbor.
1. Choose the Company and Product well, or let your imagination Create Your Own product. (get quality Root Stock)
2. Be willing to invest in books, and tapes and align yourself with quality training (Prepare your ground and plan)
3. Have a written plan and be prepared to work daily in the beginning, to constantly build your foundation of quality recruits. (constantly prune, tie and Fertilize the tree during
the first year)
I am currently re-visiting Og Mandino’s 1968 classic The Greatest Salesman in the World
Each of the 10 scrolls are to be read 3 times daily for 30 days, according to the narrative. The reason is to promote a solid habit foundation. It may seem ponderous to the fast-paced mentality found in today’s frenetic business environment, but I learned years ago when first addressing this book the system of BUILDING the solid base seems to always be followed with success.
But along the topic of this post the following excerpt from Scroll #1 is relevant:
Time teaches all things to he who lives forever but I have not the luxury of eternity. Yet, within my allotted time I must practice the art of patience for nature acts never in haste. To create the olive, king of all trees, a hundred years is required. An onion plant is old in nine weeks. I have lived as an onion plant. It has not pleased me. Now I wouldst become the greatest of olive trees and, in truth, the greatest of salesmen.
Og Mandino, The Greatest Salesman in the World
The following video is a walk through the Walnut Orchard in 2010
Are you following a similar Business Mindset?
Comment below
Suggested Reading
Thank you for writing this article, Chuck. It brought me out of the chaos I had been stewing in concerning my own business for several months now. I now remember there is a time and season for all things, even in business. I can now, with a bit more clarity , move forward in the planting phase. The video was a great addition. Keep up the good work, you are making a difference for so many.
Your presence in any comment section always brings sunshine. Thank you very much, Tonya.
Looking forward to the growth period!