More than six months into the strangest year most of us have ever seen, we’ve all had some extra time on our hands. Time to consider our careers – whether our jobs survived quarantine or not; and the career growth we would like to see. And, time to test out one or two (or ten) new hobbies.
Personally, being new to Austin, TX, while living under shelter-in-place orders has given me the chance not only to ponder my career path and try out some new things (the extra baking hasn’t been good for a diet, but I hear it’s great for my mental health), but also to cultivate my already thriving houseplant hobby, and spend some time looking at it from new angles.
It turns out that you can learn a lot from houseplants.
Considering what houseplants can teach us about career growth – the Young Women’s Alliance is a professional networking group, after all – I’ll share five key lessons.
1. Growth Takes Time.
You can’t force a plant to grow: it does so at its own pace, dependent on its environment. If it’s a slow-growing variety, or doesn’t have sunlight, no amount of Miracle-Gro will make it bigger or healthier.
Houseplants growing on a window ledge here in sunny Texas are going to have a much different environment from a window in Seattle. Similarly, launching a career on your own in, say, Carson City, NV, is sure to be different than building up your career with a mentor and a network in downtown Austin, TX.
Whatever your circumstances, though, career growth takes time – and just how much time is different for everyone. It can’t be forced, only nurtured. The good news is that there are many different ways that you can choose to nurture your own personal and professional growth and help keep things moving in the right direction.
“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow” – Audrey Hepburn
2. Setbacks are lessons too.
So what about when things take a step in the wrong direction?
We’ve all loved a houseplant a little too much, and watched its related demise. After, you take stock of how and why it died. Maybe you realize that fern shriveled up because it was too close to the window. Or that the succulent you over-loved needs a lot less water. And hopefully, the next plant you get fares better thanks to your new knowledge.
Your career is no different! At first, a setback can feel like the end. In reality, it’s a moment in time, and will often lead you to better things. When you miss out on a promotion, fail to deliver on a project, or are laid off, let yourself feel the emotions that result. But after that, find out what the lesson is, and how you can use it to keep going forward.
It could be as simple as “I was asked for this deliverable, but did something else.” Whoops. Be open and straightforward, discuss where the misunderstanding arose and what went wrong during the execution, and remember that for next time.
Or it could be something bigger. Maybe you were trying so hard to please your manager that you forgot to think of your future career. While focusing on menial tasks for the present, you missed the opportunity to take on a project that would have taught you new skills – skills you’ll need to get the promotion you want. It’s a setback, sure, but not a mistake you’re likely to make again. In the future, you’ll remember situations like these, and make choices that will help to lead you closer to your goals.
3. You can’t force it.
Sometimes there’s a plant that you just love the idea of, but there’s no way you could make it thrive. You don’t have the lighting, and your cat would definitely chew the leaves to pieces. As nice as it would be, you’ll have to settle for admiring them in the Great Outdoors greenhouse.
Like that plant that can’t be forced to live in all the wrong conditions, neither can your career.
To facilitate growth, you first need to gather the right ingredients. Sometimes it’s location: meetup groups in Austin, like YWA, are thriving because there are so many young professionals moving to the city each day, all in the name of career advancement.
If your current job is taking you nowhere; if you think a job would be nice because it pays six figures, but don’t care for half of what the work entails; you may need to accept that those jobs are good in other environments, but not a good fit for you.
If you know where you’d like to end up but aren’t there? You may need to take some classes. You may need to have your resume rewritten. Maybe you need help figuring out what you need. That’s fine! What you can’t do is somehow force a promotion or a career change without doing the work that builds up to it.
Speaking of meetup groups in Austin, they can be a fantastic way to gather all the resources you need, especially if you’re new to Austin. Networking groups (like YWA) allow you to meet others from diverse backgrounds, who share similar goals and values, but have different knowledge and connections.
4. Sometimes we all need a little help
Like fertilizer for your fiddle-leaf fig, connecting with other professional women can help your career grow and flourish much faster than if you stayed at it all alone. Plus, it makes the journey much more enjoyable!
Whether in your office, your apartment building, a social group for women, or all of the above, the value of becoming part of a group and cultivating true connections cannot be overstated. For example, with membership in the Young Women’s Alliance, not only is there the obvious benefit of making new friends, but many others, including:
- Getting involved in the Austin community
- Building up leadership and professional skills
- Opportunities for volunteering and giving back
- Access to events, mixers, committees, and workshops
- Opportunities to be mentored by prominent professional women
Half the fun of a houseplant hobby is geeking out with other plant enthusiasts, isn’t it? They share your excitement, trade tips and tricks, and introduce you to nurseries you hadn’t visited before. It’s no different with your professional life. Joining a professional networking group connects you to those who can share experiences and tips; teach you about industries or jobs you weren’t familiar with; introduce you to people who could help you grow your career; and give you the chance to help them in return.
5. Enjoy the journey
A new plant, a new job, a new city, new friends. They all take some acclimation. You may not know exactly how to approach it at first, but that’s fine! Allow yourself to be a little vulnerable, and you may be amazed at all that comes of it.
“Accomplishments will prove to be a journey, not a destination.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
Goals are important, but that doesn’t mean that what happens in between isn’t. Sometimes doing the work and getting your hands dirty is exactly what you need; appreciate the process of choosing a plant, potting it, and watching it grow, while taking a quick break from wondering just how big it will get or when it will flower. As long as you keep moving forward, the potential for growth is infinite. Revel in each step it takes to get you there.
Just as some plants may only bloom once in a season, the Young Women’s Alliance isn’t open for new membership all year long – so while it is, make sure you take advantage! The final open enrollment period of 2020 will be during the month of October. You can visit this page for more information on membership, to become a new member, and to subscribe to email notifications.
Finally, don’t forget to drink water and get some sun. After all, we’re basically just houseplants with more complicated emotions.
