I am blessed to be able to live and work in Pasadena, CA, home to the Rose Parade, The Tournament of Roses Rose Bowl, the Norton Simon Museum and 2 of the world's greatest flea markets, the Rose Bowl Flea Market (every second Sunday of the month) and Pasadena City College Flea Market (the first Sunday of every month). Pasadena is also a veritable Garden of Eden. Everything grows here, and grows well. Too well if you are not careful.
Four years ago I planted a peach tree in my yard. Yes, even peaches grow here (the low chill varieties). My peach tree, which is pretty low maintenance - or at least I don't put much effort into it, except to water and fertilize it (organic fertilizer) when I remember - seems to be very happy. Almost too happy. Two years ago, my Happy Little Peach Tree produced so many peaches, the branches were so laden with fruit, that it split right in half when a main branch broke under the weight. I applied some major first aid, supported the broken branch, clamped it back up to the rest of the tree with pipe clamps, and stripped all the still immature fruit to relieve the weight. Surprisingly, both halves of the tree survived and last year my happy little peach tree produced another bumper crop of peaches, that were then promptly devoured by a flock of wild parrots (yes, we have wild parrots in Pasadena - who knew?) the day before they were to be harvested. But that's for another Blog.
Yesterday, I noticed that my Happy Little Peach Tree was beginning to sag under the weight of another huge crop of peaches. I love peaches, and nothing gives me more joy than to each peaches (or Satsumas, or Navel Oranges, or Meyer Lemons) that I grew myself. So it was with a heavy heart that I began to do what I should do every year, which is to thin the peaches to one every 4", so the remaining peaches get larger and more flavorful, and so that the branches don't break again. It broke my heart to pull perfectly good and potentially delicious little peaches off the tree, but I know it is for the best.
As I was thinning the peaches, I got to thinking about my business Moving Mountains Design & Home Staging, www.MovingMountainsDesign.com and how I have to care for my business a lot like I care for my Happy Little Peach Tree. Recently, I have had an influx of business, almost too much business, which has threatened my well being and the good reputation of my business by creating a lot of stress to "get 'er done" (in the words of the very sage Larry the Cable Guy) and get 'er done right. I don't like to say "no", and I don't like to turn away business. My 'branches' were starting to sag, and something was going to break. I did some soul searching to try and figure out how to best salvage my sanity and continue to deliver exceptional service to my clients. I hired another Assistant who will help relieve some of the burden of running the business, and I have started the process of "thinning the peaches". I am writing an addendum to my business plan that outlines the kind of business that I enjoy and want to attract, and I am going to say no to business that I don't enjoy, is problematic, or is outside a limited area, but have accepted in the past in order to build my business. I'm going to start "cherry picking" (or in this case "peach picking") in an effort to attract and retain more high quality clients. I hope, in this way, to enjoy a more fruitful "harvest" from my business and in my life.
Do you "thin your peaches"? How do you tend the "garden" that is your business for a better "harvest" and a better quality life?
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