Prized Results & Hidden Methods

Not too long ago our uncle was telling us a story from his childhood that had a surprisingly powerful lesson in it that can help you to get better results.

Here’s how it went.

Like our grandfather, our uncle’s grandpa also enjoyed gardening and was known for his particularly spectacular roses. He told us that his bushes produced the most prolific (in size, fragrance, and color) blooms, but there was a secret technique.

Intrigued, we asked what the hidden method was.

He went on to explain that when the bushes would start to put out their first buds, his grandfather would go and pick all of them off, not letting any of them to flower! In fact, he would continue doing this for several weeks. We were shocked!

“But what about his prized flowers??” we inquired.

Our uncle said that his grandfather would continue this process until just the right time when somehow he intuitively knew to stop. Then, he would let the plants bloom and suddenly the most magnificent roses would appear.

“The plants send their sugar to the flowers, so when he would pick off all the buds, the sugar would build up in the plant. Then, when it was finally allowed to bloom, the roses would burst forth in impressive size and color because of the reserved resources.”

We couldn’t help but see how this was a powerful metaphor for what can happen when we choose to eliminate distractions and focus our efforts in a singular direction.

It’s worth considering what your end goal is because success can take several forms. Do you want to go shallow in several areas or deep in a few?

If you’re looking to get big results, it might be time to do a little pruning so that you can focus your energy, attention, and efforts in one direction in order to get spectacular results. 

On the other hand, if you need to broaden your reach, you might want to consider what other interests, areas, and individuals you need to invest energy and effort into.

What method of growth do you need to employ in your current season of life?