What Will it Take For Your Project to Bear Fruit?

Beginning anything new from scratch, be it a new business venture, cause marketing campaign, strategic partnership or other major project is exciting. And a little daunting. In certain situations, it can feel like you’re betting the farm. Except it’s not a farm yet. Not really. More like an empty garden plot upon which you envision a flourishing apple orchard.

Any idea how long it takes for an apple tree to bear fruit? Stay tuned.

So what does it take to nurture your plot of land to a successful harvest? Turns out….a lot.

The Right Plot of Land. Like an apple tree that needs water, sunlight, the right Ph balance and sufficient nitrogen levels, so does your project need the right environment. Political factors in the world or within your organization, goodwill of stakeholders and partners, technology, competitive forces, industry trends and consumer or donor expectations all play a critical role. Have you considered them?

The Farmers. Knowing who’s in charge of tilling and preparing the soil, securing the best plants, sowing, watering, fertilizing and pruning is also of utmost importance. Is it you and you alone? What happens when you get sick? Who will tend your precious plants, especially in the early stages? If you’re bringing other farmers into the project to assist you, do they have the skill and work ethic needed? How about the tools? Do you trust them with your harvest? What do they have to offer that you can’t? What will you offer them in return? Do you share the same vision for the harvest? Are you sure?

Strong Starts. When selecting apple starts, seasoned growers know to look for a small tree with a good root system. Does your project have “deep roots” into the community you’re trying to reach? Is this something your desired audience cares deeply about? For that matter, is it something you care deeply about? Remember, the roots are the very foundation of a project. Choose wisely.

A Plan. Contrary to what most Johnny Appleseed fans imagine, planting fruit-bearing apple trees takes a plan. When will you plant, prune, fertilize and evaluate your trees? How will you thin the fruit? When will you harvest? And when you do harvest, what will you do with the apples? Eat them or turn them into baby food? Do you know the major milestones for your project? Part of this comes from experience. Most of it comes from a plan. There’s a definite method behind the seemingly “organic” process. What’s yours?

Weed Control. Tedious as this may be, it’s necessary to keep weeds away from your developing plants. And make no mistake about it; the weeds will come no matter how much you try to avoid them. For your project, this may take the form of political drama, road bumps, false starts and missed deadlines. For large and potentially plant-crushing weeds, develop a contingency plan (and budget) so you’re not derailed. For smaller weeds, probably the best plan is just to expect them, then address them accordingly and maintain flexibility.

Careful Pruning. Particularly for apple trees that bear the weight of heavy fruit, it’s important to establish a strong and well-balanced framework of scaffold branches. The earlier and more intentionally you do this, the better. This involves a careful process of pruning and spreading young limbs so that they may develop into wide, strong branches suitable for bearing the most possible fruit. While it may be tempting to chase after every possible offshoot of a project, stay the course and prune your project back to the central pillars you know you can knock out of the park. Many a project have fallen victim to fragmentation, disorganization and general overwhelm by not sticking to a strict pruning regiment.

Patience. Want to know how long it takes an apple tree to bear fruit? Six to 10 years. Great projects don’t happen overnight, they take time, nurturing, vision and patience. Stay the course.  Keep the faith. Remember the vision.

What orchards are you currently nurturing? And, more importantly, what steps have I missed?

Image credit to one of my favorite places on earth, Mt. Hood Organics in Hood River.

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