Anita Palmer

Achieving a goal isn’t merely a destination but rather a journey. As children, we were often asked what we wanted to be when we grew up, as if reaching that point would be the end of the book. Our careers, like our personal lives, are marked by numerous milestones. Some are seamless and smooth, while others are slow and rocky, yet sometimes we didn’t even know they were milestones.

Our entry into the workforce and earning a paycheck was the initial stop on the map. If you were to take a moment and reflect on your very first job, think about the role it played in your journey. In mine, I started as a helper at a local landscape nursery, watering and nurturing plants during summer break. When I felt like it was aced, the owner asked me to expand and code all the customer purchases. By the time summer was over, I had tended the greenhouse, sold to customers, reconciled the daily purchases and coded all the sales. Through that experience, I learned what it meant to earn trust and credibility. There are moments when we yearn to do more and contribute on a larger scale. We might even identify a new role that ignites our passion but are unsure of the path to get there. This early milestone opened the door to my love of the landscape industry and the people in it.

You never know what will come of taking a chance. Not long ago, a colleague of mine didn’t apply for an open position, even though it was her aspiration. The role represented a promotion, but she felt she lacked the necessary skills in finance and operations. If she had the confidence, it would have made all the difference. My 12-year-old son wanted to pitch for his baseball team. He had never pitched before, but when the coach asked if he wanted to try, he said “absolutely” without hesitation. Imagine if we had that same courage to say “yes” to something we’ve never done before. When a former boss asked me to step up and take over two service lines, without a blink, I agreed. By saying “yes,” it allowed me the opportunity to show my stuff all the while paving the way for the next milestone.

If you’re looking to advance to the next level in your career or simply elevate your current position, here are a few suggestions I learned along the way.

• Education: Continuous learning will prepare you for any goal you set your sights on. It’s just as important to recognize what you don’t know as it is to showcase what you do. Community college, National Association of Landscape Professional classes, webinars and certification programs are all great resources.
• Contribution potential: Focus on what you can contribute rather than a specific title or role. It’s your contributions that will precede you and pave that way forward.
• Fear is Your Friend: Anything new will be uncomfortable. When asked to take on a new challenge, say “yes” or better yet, volunteer for it. The only true failure is not trying.
• Imagine: Envision what your day would look like in whatever you venture. Identify the skills you need to improve. Seek out a mentor who can help you understand what to expect, what to learn and how to prepare.
• Action: Speaks louder than any words you can muster. Just do it!

Push the boundaries of your comfort zone. The path to your goals may not be straightforward but will be a long row of valuable milestones along the way.

Women in Landscaping is a column brought to you in partnership with the National Association of Landscape Professionals. Anita Palmer is an active member of the National Association of Landscape Professionals Women in Landscape Network (powered by Envu) which provides a forum for industry professionals to support each other’s professional growth. The Network is free to all industry professionals.