{"id":11457,"date":"2021-08-17T19:32:04","date_gmt":"2021-08-17T19:32:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/?p=11457"},"modified":"2021-08-18T00:46:33","modified_gmt":"2021-08-18T00:46:33","slug":"water-the-bamboo-greg-bell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/water-the-bamboo-greg-bell\/","title":{"rendered":"Water the Bamboo"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you planted a seed, how would you ensure it\u2019s growing? You\u2019d likely water it often, make sure nothing or no one disturbs the soil, and hope for no extreme temperatures (or move your potted seed inside a climate-controlled building). But you wouldn\u2019t dig it up to check on it\u2014that would ruin the seed\u2019s growth!<\/span><\/p>\n

Growing plants takes patience and persistence. So does personal and professional growth, says Greg Bell. Greg, an author, thought leader and motivational speaker, delivered an inspirational Game Changer session during ASAE\u2019s 2021 Annual Meeting about nurturing your personal growth and the growth of your organization. He opened by asking everyone a simple question:<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s going well?<\/b><\/h4>\n

What\u2019s going well in your life? In your career? In your community? If you\u2019re not already of a growth mindset, ease into one by asking yourself this question every day. Even in the worst of times, we can all find something going well, even if it\u2019s just, \u201cI woke up today.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Next, ask yourself, Who is that connected to? Who is helping you work toward your goals? How does it make you feel?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ask questions that encourage you to think positively. If you ask yourself lousy questions, you\u2019ll only get lousy answers in return. The language we use, with others but especially with ourselves, determines how we think. How we think determines what we believe. Our beliefs determine our actions. And our actions determine our reality, and what we think is true.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Greg
The language we use with ourselves and others creates a self-replicating path of beliefs, actions, and reality. What are you telling yourself about your ability to create growth?<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Usually it\u2019s not enough to just speak our goals into fruition, however. We must nurture them. This is where Bell reminded us that some plants, like giant timber bamboo, can take four years or more to sprout. Once they sprout, they can grow 90 feet in 60 days! But it takes plenty of nurturing to get to that point: lots of water, sun, and rich, undisturbed soil.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Similarly, the seeds of your growth take lots of nurturing as well:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Patience<\/strong>: Growth takes time.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Persistence<\/strong>: You must constantly tend your work to see success.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Courage<\/strong>: There will be unknown or unanticipated factors that crop up.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Self-discipline<\/strong>: You can\u2019t lead others if you’re not disciplined yourself.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Strong beliefs<\/strong>: To overcome doubters, internal or external.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    There\u2019s no such thing as an overnight success. There\u2019s always a lot of invisible work that goes on in the background before success happens. The constant nurturing of new habits and new goals takes time! Farmers don\u2019t dig up their crops to see if they\u2019re growing. They patiently wait, and they nurture in the meantime.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Bell cautioned against the \u201cpandas\u201d that will amble into your path as you work toward growth. Pandas eat 40-50 pounds of bamboo per day. They can destroy a bamboo patch the same way fear, uncertainty and doubt can destroy your plans. You must summon up the courage to face fears and uncertainty. But it takes practice and positivity to overcome doubtful voices\u2014yours or others\u2019. Doubt insidiously infiltrates our plans and derails us from achieving our goals. This is why it\u2019s important to think about what\u2019s going well! <\/span>Roger Bannister<\/span><\/a> was told he would not break the 4-minute mark for running a mile because of his unusual training regimen. But he did it anyway, practicing on his lunch breaks from medical school.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    There are other \u201cpandas\u201d to watch out for: procrastination, disorganization, lack of self-care. Bell reminded the audience that we cannot achieve more if we limit ourselves physically by not getting enough sleep, not eating healthy or not being physically active. He also reminded the audience to let go of unrealistic expectations. Stop trying to keep up with the Joneses. Just when you think you\u2019ve caught up, they\u2019ll refinance and level up again!<\/span><\/p>\n

    In closing, Bell offered a study of the word \u201cmomentum.\u201d The word begins with \u201cmoments.\u201d Our lives are made up of moments. Be present and focus on moments, one after the next. But \u201cmomentum\u201d ends with the word \u201cum\u201d\u2014a pause. Remember to pause every now and then. Pause when you\u2019ve achieved a goal or when you\u2019ve experienced a setback. Reflect on what\u2019s going well. Think about where you want to go next, then keep going. Keep nurturing yourself and your goals. Keep watering that bamboo.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    More than just a motivational speaker, Greg Bell is a Portland, Oregon based thought leader, business consultant, and leadership coach. His popular books, What\u2019s Going Well? and Water The Bamboo: Unleashing The Potential Of Teams And Individuals, have inspired an array of organizations including Fortune 500 companies like Nike, Disney, and Comcast. Watering your goal\u2014or bamboo\u2014with focused attention can lead to astonishing results. As an innovator and keen observer of highly successful leaders and teams, Greg has learned that the key to success is having the courage to use the skills you already have to achieve a result greater than you previously imagined. Learn more about Greg at <\/span>gregbellspeaks.com<\/b><\/a> or on Twitter <\/span>@gregbellspeaks<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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