An avid gardener spends ample time nurturing a garden to achieve the well-managed and beautiful landscape garden we all admire. Anyone that desires the same must be willing to go through the consistent almost painful routine to achieve similar results. A great garden needs constant soil cultivation, watering, nurturing, weeding and more to make those plants flourish.  

The same nurturing principle works for your ideas. Whether you are at the pre-start-up, start-up or business development stage, consistent idea nurturing is necessary for business growth. You cannot water your idea or dreams just when you feel like it; it must be consistent and purposeful to achieve real lasting results.   

Let us assume there has been an idea on your mind for a while. Maybe this idea has been there for two years, and you have done nothing about it, well there will be no growth. However, if you have written it down, pruning it, sought advice and conducted some research on the idea, you will surely have seen progress by now.

To grow your idea and take it to the next level, here are five requirements for effective nurturing and growth:

1. The right environment

Just like a plant, every idea needs the right environment to flourish. If you are not in the right environment that promotes growth, your idea will struggle to see the light of day – this includes the right people, habits and information. You will have to get out of your comfort zone and find people who can help you nurture your idea.

For example, you should attend networking meetings even if you have to pay an entry fee or a subscription. Take the bold step to invite one or two successful people in your industry for coffee and pick their brains. You must be willing to do what it requires to being in the right environment for growth.

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.” – Steve Jobs

2. The right tools

Do you own any garden tools? What a rake can do is different from the job of a shovel. Even though you might use one for both tasks, you will not get the same results. You need the right tools to grown your ideas. Carry out an inventory of what you need right now, make a list of your requirements.

Rather than keep wishing for all of them to come to you at once, start with the first need on your list and work your way down. Even if you do not have all the funds now, you can work with the ones you can afford and keep moving forward.

3. The right advice

If you want advice on plant cultivation, you had better go to the garden centre rather than a petrol station. Be careful who feeds you with information about your idea. If you have toxic friends or family who rain on your parade, shield your dreams from them.

Do not allow them to kill your dreams before they bud. Find the support of a trustworthy accountability partner or coach to help you realise your dreams and keep you focused. Network with like-minded people so you can give your idea the boost it needs.

4. The right food

We all need food, plants and humans alike. The wrong food can lead to the death of plants or ideas. What does your mind dwell on, the route to success or fear of failure? It is important that you feed your mind with thoughts and information that promotes growth. Your mindset is one of the most important nourishments for your dreams and ideas. If you set your mind permanently on the positive dial, even when plans fail you will bounce right back.  

“Good food is healthy food. Food is supposed to sustain you so you can live better, not so you can eat more. Some people eat to live, and some people live to eat.” – Yolanda Adams

5. The right season

There is a time for everything under the sun. Some plants flourish in summer while some do best in the cold months. Knowing your seasons will enable you to apply the right action at the right time.  There will be a season when you need to plan and when to take action. Don’t mix up the seasons; give your ideas a good chance of survival in all conditions.  

Applying the right nurturing principles will ensure you grow your business ideas effectively and see consistent growth over time. You cannot afford to be stagnant with what you need to do to turn your dreams into reality. Make a commitment today to start nurturing your aspirations and make magic happen. Your business deserves it.

Which ways do you nurture your business idea? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below!