Bloom Where You're Planted
A highly successful CEO recently shared with me his mother’s advice that has stood him in good stead from humble beginnings all the way to the executive suite: “bloom where you’re planted”.
This phrase has stuck in my mind because it raised a dichotomy that I needed to resolve, one that struck a bit close to home.
On the one hand, to bloom where you’re planted is an empowering message. It invites us to be committed, resourceful, and creative in reframing whatever situation we find ourselves in such that we can succeed and excel. An analog to psychologist Viktor Frankl’s observations as a concentration camp survivor that we always have a choice and can find meaning no matter what the circumstance. Choose to bloom. Right where you are planted.
On the other hand, I fretted that “bloom where you’re planted” implied a “taker” mentality; that we must accept our lot in life, and go where we are told to go. As a child of immigrants who came to America to pursue a better future, it worried me to allow others to plant me somewhere rather than finding the best place to plant myself.
The aspect that hit closest to home is someone once told me that I had had an “amiable career”, amiably accepting the roles I was given and going along with what the corporation wanted me to do. So, had I been a “taker” for two decades and would it have gone better if I had been more of a “maker”, proactively going after what I wanted (if only I had known what that was, but that’s another story)?
Perhaps the way to reconcile these two seemingly opposite interpretations is this:
- We owe it to ourselves to seek the best soil for our unique set of abilities and interests, which means experimenting with different work settings and not just being a taker of whatever comes along.
- And the best way to approach each experiment is with a “bloom where you’re planted” attitude — a constructive and go-for-it mindset. It’s the only way to get a true view. Then, see if you like the outcome. Stay if you do, and find new soil if you don’t.
As for my amiable career, even that has turned out better than expected, and maybe amiable – like the interpretation of “bloom where you’re planted” – is in the eye of the beholder.
Once again I find myself having to go back and reread and reflect. There are so many aspects of my life that “Bloom where you planted” applies. My wife makes fun of me when I tell my daughters I drove a cab, ran a restaurant , worked at 7-11. The truth is I had a difficult time finding where I fit until I went back to school to finish my education degree. I would tell kids in class it took me 9 years to graduate from college because I just did not know where I belonged. Once I found it my “special sauce” kicked in and I never thought of my job as a job. It was a life.
The dichotomy occurred when I was asked to leave the classroom and take an administrative position. I love the classroom. I still do, but I was asked to help by a mentor. Someone who I trusted, respected and I was loyal . I had an amiable career. I was comfortable and well respected as a classroom teacher. Now, I was being asked to go to “the dark side “. The principal said it would be for six weeks while one of his assistants recovered from an illness. I agreed after much contemplation . As they say, the rest is history. The assistant unfortunately passed away and I assumed the role for the rest of the school year. Four years later I was announced as the principal of a large suburban high school
Choosing to take the challenge to “bloom where you planted”, is the key for me . Recognizing those opportunities and acting on the is the critical step in the journey.
Tim, thank you for sharing this inspiring story. We all wonder where we “belong” at some point in life, and it’s great to know that yes, everything is still possible! I’m so pleased to know you found “a life” rather than “just a job” – it’s what all parents wish for their kids.
And your last sentence is perhaps the most instructive: you have to both recognize the opportunities and act on them!
Hi May
This resonates with me.
I grew up as a kid in Australia (parents emigrated from England when I was baby) and I returned to England when I was 18 so the formative years were spent in Oz. Now as a ‘pommie’ I learnt quickly as a kid the best way to fit in (in the wake of ‘pommie bashing’) was to join in with team sports. Fortunately I was a reasonably gifted sports person and a team player and this has benefitted me many times over the years. Particularly after returning to England because I felt different here too (An Aussie!) because I had an Aussie mentality but the sports (team) ethos allowed me to easily fit in. I did go through a period trying to rid myself of the accent and thankfully after some years I learnt to endorse it and the upbringing and culture I had experienced.
I recognised that I just needed to maximise what I already have; My personal traits, background and experiences are what I am about.
Just over a year ago I took a very big decision after a prior year of personal issues that took its toll on our family. Thankfully the latter has been sorted favourably and business wise I moved from being an ‘Independent Financial Adviser’ with then 34 years of experience (via 5 different firms) across to St James’s Place Wealth Management as a Financial Adviser because I wanted to maximise my potential in Wealth Management and to know that this would be a last move. The latter point was relevant to my clients because too many IFA firms were continuously failing to survive. This was a risk and a huge culture change.
Results after a year: I lost one sizable client but gained more clients, I qualified for the International Convention in San Francisco, My total net income is on target to have increased by 33%. I have already received as much income in the last 9 months as previous years (and I would have accepted that level as more than adequate, My technical knowledge and presentation skills have improved immensely, My P.A. has improved too across all aspects. I am having even more fun!
I took the risk to move and I have more desire ‘to bloom’!
Thanks again May for reinforcing such a powerful and valid point.
Gary
Wonderful story, Gary. Great to see your risk-taking (and hard work!) has been rewarded!
The word amiable struck me. It’s come up consistently in my 360’s and performance reviews. I saw myself as mentally agile, willing to take on any assignment, even those that were not what I wanted to do or considered career suicide. Being a team player, a culture carrier. Fearless.
When my style was labeled as “amiable” I was shocked. I hated the word and the implication.
Today I see amiable as a strategy to blooming where you’re planted which resulted in a 20 year career and an amazing experience. That same strategy also allowed me to recognize when it was time to do something new. Amiable is a better word today.
Great post to start off the week, May!
Chris
So pleased that it’s all working for you!
I’m coming to the view that with the proper “topping and tailing”, perhaps we can turn “amiable” into “agile and fearless” – for example, when I was asked to do a new role, I could have negotiated and positioned it better upfront by saying things like “Thank you for this offer. While you know I’m fearless, there is considerable risk to this assignment, and I’d like to make sure you and the firm are co-investing with me. Here’s what I need to be successful….” And of course, make sure there is a narrative that says how the role fits into my own career goals.
Then again, maybe it doesn’t matter what others think?!