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Dear Friends and Clients,

A year ago I wrote how the creation of our garden at Buckeye Farm became entwined in the course of my career. It was the pull of the garden that gave me the strength to leave the corporate world and develop a work style that would allow me more time outdoors. [June 17, 2008 ezine]

With the garden I learned to think big, pursuing a vision that a reasonable person would have declared beyond my reach. And all those outdoor hours have given me a chance to reflect on the things that I want in my life, and how I might bring them into being.

I felt a bit self-indulgent writing a newsletter focused on my garden, and wasn’t sure this metaphor that works so well for me would provide insights about your careers. However, that ezine drew far more comments than any of the other 105 that I’ve written to date.

So I’ve decided to make it an annual tradition. This issue again looks to the garden for ideas about how to shape our careers and our lives. But first let me mention that, as always, I’ll take a break and skip the first ezine in July. The next issue of “ Bev’s Tips” will reach your inbox on Tuesday, July 21.

Warm Wishes, Bev

More Career Lessons
From A Garden

June 16th, 2009 * Number 106

Fifteen years ago, when I began gardening at Buckeye Farm, I understood little about the many differences between creating a city garden and carving out 5 acres of garden amidst 45 acres of overrun farmland.

My first flowerbeds in the country were pretty, but they didn’t work together to create an interesting, integrated whole. The sameness from bed to bed felt bland, and the total effect lacked excitement and surprise.

In 2002, at about the same time I was reinventing my career, we started a construction project to triple the farmhouse footprint. It was wrenching to tear up my perennial beds and stick favorite plants in temporary homes. But the disruption gave me a wonderful opportunity to reflect on my mistakes, articulate my emerging philosophy about garden design, and start over.

As I rebuilt my career, a key theme was balance in my life and work. At the same time, balance became a guiding principle in shaping the garden. Here are some guidelines suggesting that balance can enhance both gardens and careers:

Align resources and priorities. Before the renovation, I tried to keep all garden areas equally well groomed, but I didn’t succeed anywhere. Now I apply the 80:20 Rule to my landscape [See 80:20 Rule ezine.]I concentrate many of my maintenance hours on a few important areas, like the beds along the patios. In other areas, I find beauty in the wild, untended look. I find that if a few beds are well cultivated the whole garden seems to be intentional, and sufficiently under control. This is consistent with my work style these days. I try to focus on a few top goals, and not make myself crazy about the other details.
Explore new paths. Gardens are more captivating if you can’t see them all at once. It’s intriguing to spot an opening in the hedge, and then follow a winding path through trees and shrubs until you come upon the gazebo at the edge of a pond. No matter where we are in life, we need to keep carving out new pathways. New pastimes or interests can stimulate our creativity and broaden our perspective and our network. Sometimes the quickest way to bring new energy to your work life is to take a trip or commit to a new hobby.
Value empty space. I took a long time to understand the value of clear space in the garden. Eventually I learned that broad paths and open resting spots provide vantage points for appreciating the abundant planting. This year I’m methodically expanding the clear spaces within the garden design. I find that each open space allows access to features and views that had been hidden. I’m reducing the size of my beds, and yet at the same time I’m increasing their impact. In a similar way, I try to be vigilant about protecting the uncommitted hours in my life. My unstructured time in the garden helps me to be at the top of game when I’m with clients.
Enfold and reach out. From the porches, we have some great views. To the east we see the cliffs behind the Hughs River, and to the southwest is Old Rag Mountain, a Blue Ridge gem. The vistas are lovely, but the views become even more enjoyable when the foreground feels welcoming. I try to compose the landscape so that in the spaces near the house the flower borders and garden structures create a sense of enclosure, balancing the imposing scenery in the distance. As in the garden, there is a sense of peace and integrity in a life that reflects conscious composition. We may feel more grounded if we create order in the near term, and if we balance it with a great vision for the future.
Share the wealth. In recent years I’ve expanded the space devoted to fruits and vegetables. The peach, apricot, and other trees are still too new to prove themselves, and there was too much rain for the strawberries, but the blueberries and asparagus are having a great year. We’ve put in dozens of tomato plants and we’ll have more peppers than we could ever eat by ourselves. One of the nicest things about having a garden is sharing it. It’s rewarding to have other people enjoy the bounty and even engage in the processes of planning and harvesting. In our gardens and our work lives, the rewards become richer when we find ways to share them.

A small path wanders near an old stone wall at Buckeye Farm,
in May 2009. Photo by Beth Stelle Jones

Want to explore more resources for expanding your career? In addition to providing executive coaching, Bev is available to speak about a broad range of issues related to your work life. Visit her website at www.ClearWaysConsulting.com or email to Bev directly. Bev is associated with Executive Coaching & Consulting Associates.

Bev’s Tips for a Better Work Life is published on the first and third Tuesday of each month by Beverly E. Jones of ClearWays Consulting, LLC. Bev is a lawyer and former executive who now coaches accomplished executives and other professionals to bring new direction, energy and enjoyment to their work lives.

All rights in all media reserved. However, the content of Bev’s Tips for a Better Work Life may be forwarded in full without special permission on the condition that (1) it is for non-profit use and (2) full attribution and copyright notice are given. For other uses please contact Bev Jones.

Our address is: 2925 43rd Street, NW, Washington, DC 20016.