​I could be referring to organic vegetables, or whatever else your imagination conjures up, but I’m not.  I’m referring to the uniquely personal responsibility to Grow Your Own Future.
 
Your future doesn’t come in a paint by numbers kit and it isn’t pre-ordained.  Your future depends upon the decisions you make, more than any of the other factors that affect it.  But your future won’t take root and grow unless you do.
 
Five factors worthy of consideration to ‘grow your own’ include:

• ​Your chosen outcome.  What do you want to be, do or accomplish?
  
• The company you keep. There is no bigger decision you can make than this one; like it or not, eventually you become like the company you keep.
  
• Actions you’re willing to take.  What trade-offs will you make along the way?
  
• Education you acquire.  Expertise in virtually any field of endeavor is available online, real-time, and for the Googling.  But you still need to go get it.
  
• Time you dedicate to cultivation.  Bountiful gardens don’t grown without consistent care.

When it comes to your future, grow your own.
 
Tempus Maximize

How would you define what it means to be an Exceptional Professional? I can show you what it “looks” like, but allow me to attempt describing what you see in the picture associated with this post. I’ve been privileged to work with many of the “best in the business” over the past 16 years in commercial landscaping; as with viewing fine art, I know what I like when I see it!

To be Exceptional belongs in a separate class, far above Average and a diamond cut above Excellent. To be Exceptional is to be Rare. Interestingly, that doesn’t mean being lonely at the top; rather it signifies associating with a like-minded group of people who share some crucial characteristics. Here are six of the shared qualities of Exceptional Professionals I know and respect:

• They Care More than Most. Quite simply, they care about each other and they care about the outcome. A Shared Consciousness, anchored in Shared Beliefs, puts them on a wavelength that only a few can tune into; those who do, understand the music.
  
• They are Down to Earth. There is no better place than the Middle West to understand what that means. They respect the earth, they know how to cultivate things and they aren’t above doing the worthy work that others are called upon to perform. That speaks to my farming roots.
  
• They Continually Get Better. Their daily goal is to be just a little better today than yesterday. And they know that if they wait to be the Best, they won’t get Better. Because, after all, “Best is the evil enemy of Better.”
  
• They are Lifelong Learners. They see life as a work in progress and take advantage of the daily opportunities that surround us.
  
• They Know what Done Right Looks Like. There’s done, but then there’s Done Right. It doesn’t always happen on the first try (though it sure feels good when it does!), but Exceptional Professionals don’t quit until they’re satisfied and they know their client will be too.
  
• They Don’t Care Who Gets the Credit. It’s the outcome that matters. When the team wins, they all win.

You may have other qualities that come to mind; if so, please join the conversation by adding a comment. After all, Exceptional Professionals know we are better together. We are Rooted in Relationships! 

Tempus Maximize!

I hope that you enjoyed Labor Day 2018. This national holiday dates back to 1894 and was a “a creation of the Labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers” according to our US Department of Labor. For many it has come to mark the end of summer and a relaxing day to enjoy with family and friends. Labor Day is for all American workers, but not any one in particular.

Recognizing Labor Day’s value and its limitations, I’ll suggest that the time is right to celebrate your own Leap Day! This uniquely personal day marks your opportunity to shed what’s been holding you back and to make a meaningful Leap forward in your life.

The possibilities for Leap Day are unlimited, but are 100% dependent upon your personal decision to act. You won’t find it on your calendar along with other recognized holidays; you’ll find it within yourself. What’s in front of you that’s worthy of dedicating your very own Leap Day to it?

Leap Day can be about that opportunity you’ve been considering, that relationship you want to start or fix, that degree you’ve talked about pursuing, or perhaps another audacious personal goal that made it into your New Year’s Resolutions, yet somehow never quite launched. What it should be about is something that makes you stretch a bit, or even a lot. It should be something that makes you a better version of yourself and therefore offers greater value to those with whom you associate.

So, go ahead and declare your own Leap Day. And enjoy the journey!

Tempus Maximize!