A client sought my advice recently.They have a fantastic vision for developing a new business but for some reason they are procrastinating and not making any progress or starting to take action to turn the vision into reality.

We spent some time discussing what is behind this lack of activity and why things are stuck. There are a few reasons, which include not wanting to let go of the familiar and move out of comfort zone and a fear of failure. However, the biggest obstacle is that the vision just seems too big and overwhelming.

We agreed that any step would be progress and that a little by little approach would help get things moving. I shared the story of “The Daffodil Principle” with the client as a source of inspiration.

Every year, high in the San Bernardino mountain range of Southern California, five acres of beautiful daffodils burst into bloom. Amazingly, this special spot, known as “The Daffodil Garden,” was planted by one person, Gene Bauer, one bulb at a time, beginning in 1958. This story originally appeared in Jaroldeen Edwards’ book Celebration!

The story contains details of a mother being taken to see the daffodils in bloom by her daughter Julie.

Apparently, Gene Bauer’s house (which was adjacent to the field of daffodils) had a poster on it which said:-

Answers to the questions I know that you are asking:-

50,000 bulbs

one at a time

by one woman

2 hands, 2 feet

and very little brain

Began in 1958

Gene Bauer planted one bulb at a time to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountain top. Still, this unknown, old woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. She had created something of magnificent beauty and inspiration.

The life lessons her daffodil garden taught are:

• Learn to move towards our goals and desires one step at a time (often just one baby-step at a time)

• Ensure that we get pleasure from and love the doing

• Learning to use the accumulation of time

When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the part of the world that we occupy with our unique contribution.

This is what the mother said to her daughter after seeing the flowers in full bloom:-.

“It makes me sad in a way,” I admitted to Julie, “What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five years ago and had worked away at it ‘one bulb at a time’ through all those years. Just think what I might have been able to achieve!“

My daughter summed up the message of the day in her direct way, “Start tomorrow, Mum,” she said, “It’s so pointless to think of the lost hours of our yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson a celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, how can I put this to use today?“

What first step could you take towards accomplishing a personal goal or vision that you have?

This week’s quotation:

“Step by step and the thing is done” Charles Atlas

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk