Think about how people talk about building a business. They use construction words. They “build” a company. They “construct” a brand. They “lay the foundation.” Moreover, everyone teaches business like it’s engineering: plan everything, then execute perfectly. Yet here’s the problem: your business isn’t a building. Rather, it’s a living thing. In fact, it’s more like a garden. And once you understand that, everything about entrepreneurship makes a lot more sense.
The Building Metaphor Is Killing Your Business
Consider how most people approach business. They create a detailed plan. Furthermore, they spend months or years planning before they start. Therefore, they think success comes from having the perfect blueprint. However, this approach misses something crucial about how real businesses actually work.
Think about building a house. You draw plans. In the same way, you get permits. Moreover, you follow the blueprint exactly. Thus, if something changes, you have to go back and fix it. In other words, the plan is sacred. However, businesses don’t work like that. Because of this, the detailed five-year plan you created probably won’t match reality. Furthermore, by year two, the world has changed. As a result, your perfect plan is already outdated.
Additionally, construction is about precision. In other words, you measure twice and cut once. Therefore, mistakes are expensive and hard to fix. In the same way, you want to get it right the first time. However, business is the opposite. Rather, you learn by doing. Thus, mistakes are part of the process. Furthermore, they teach you things no plan ever could. In addition, you adjust as you go. Consequently, the businesses that succeed aren’t the ones with the perfect plan. Rather, they’re the ones that adapt and change.
Gardens Work Differently: And That’s What Success Actually Looks Like
Now think about gardening. You prepare the soil. Furthermore, you plant seeds. However, you don’t know exactly what will happen. In the same way, you can’t control the weather. Therefore, you adjust. Moreover, you watch what grows and what doesn’t. Thus, you learn constantly. In addition, you pull out what isn’t working. As a result, you focus energy on what is working. Furthermore, you let some things grow wild while you trim others carefully. Consequently, your garden becomes unique because you’re responding to what actually happens, not following a rigid plan.
This is exactly how successful businesses work. In other words, you start with an idea and direction. However, you don’t expect it to work exactly as planned. Rather, you test things. Therefore, you see what customers actually want. In the same way, you notice which products sell and which don’t. Thus, you adjust. Moreover, you remove things that aren’t working. In addition, you focus resources on what is working. As a result, your business becomes something different than you originally planned. Furthermore, it’s usually better because it’s based on real feedback.
For instance, think about some of the biggest companies today. Facebook wasn’t originally a business. Rather, it was a social network for college students. However, as it grew, the founders noticed things. Consequently, they adjusted. In the same way, they let some features grow and cut others. Thus, it became something different and bigger than the original plan. Therefore, the companies that succeeded weren’t the ones that followed their original plan perfectly. Rather, they were the ones that noticed what was growing and adjusted their focus.
The Entrepreneur as Gardener, Not Builder
Here’s what this means for you as an entrepreneur. First, stop trying to predict everything. In other words, you can’t control the market. Therefore, don’t waste time making the perfect plan. Rather, make a good direction and start moving. Moreover, adjust as you learn. Furthermore, stay flexible. Thus, you can change course when reality shows you something better.
Additionally, understand that some things need time to grow. In the same way, not everything grows at the same rate. Therefore, you need patience. Because of this, you don’t judge your success by what you see in month one. Rather, you look at trends over months and years. In other words, gardens don’t produce full harvests overnight. In the same way, businesses need time. Thus, entrepreneurs who rush often fail because they quit before things have time to grow.
Furthermore, successful gardeners pay attention. In other words, they watch their plants constantly. Therefore, they notice problems early. In the same way, they notice what’s thriving. Moreover, they adjust water, sunlight, and nutrients based on what they see. Thus, entrepreneurs should do the same with their businesses. In addition, they should talk to customers constantly. Because of this, they understand what’s working. Furthermore, they can adjust before small problems become big ones. As a result, attention and flexibility become your biggest tools.
What You Should Actually Do
So here’s how to run your business like a smart gardener. First, have a clear vision for the type of garden you want. In other words, know your general direction. However, don’t make it too rigid. Therefore, you can change as you learn. Second, prepare good soil. In other words, build a strong foundation. Moreover, this means having decent finances, a good team, and clear values. Thus, you’re ready for things to grow.
Additionally, plant your seeds. In other words, start testing ideas. Therefore, talk to customers. In the same way, launch products or services. Furthermore, see what actually works. Thus, you learn through action, not planning. Moreover, you don’t need permission to start. Rather, you just need a direction and willingness to adjust.
Third, pull weeds constantly. In other words, remove things that aren’t working. Therefore, don’t keep doing things just because you planned to do them. Rather, if something isn’t working, adjust it or stop it. In the same way, be willing to let go of ideas that seemed good in theory but don’t work in practice. Thus, you focus energy only on things that matter. Furthermore, this makes your business stronger because you’re not wasting resources on dead weight.
Fourth, nurture what’s growing. In other words, focus on what’s working. Therefore, give it attention and resources. In the same way, invest in things that customers are actually buying. Thus, you grow the parts of your business that are healthy. Moreover, this creates momentum. As a result, your business grows naturally from what’s actually working, not from what you thought would work.
The Seasons of Business
Understanding gardening also teaches you about seasons. In other words, there are times to plant and times to harvest. Furthermore, there are seasons of growth and seasons of rest. Therefore, don’t expect your business to grow at the same rate forever. Rather, understand that some periods will be fast and others slower. In the same way, sometimes you should focus on growth. However, other times you should focus on stability. Thus, seasonal thinking helps you avoid burning out or making bad decisions during slow periods.
Additionally, just like gardens, businesses need seasons of rest. In other words, you can’t hustle forever. Therefore, build rhythms into your work. In the same way, take time to step back and look at the big picture. Moreover, don’t always be pushing. Rather, sometimes focus on enjoying what you’ve built. Thus, sustainable entrepreneurship is more like gardening than constant building.
Real Business Success
For a deeper understanding of why growing a business is like gardening, not building, explore why growing is like gardening in 2025. This article breaks down the actual metaphor in detail. Furthermore, if you want more on this concept, read about entrepreneurship as gardening. It shows why this shift changes how you approach entrepreneurship completely.
For practical business guidance, SCORE offers free mentoring and resources to help entrepreneurs make real decisions. Additionally, the Small Business Administration has tools and guides to help you understand what actually works in business.
The Takeaway
Stop thinking like a builder. Start thinking like a gardener. Therefore, you’ll stop obsessing over the perfect plan. Moreover, you’ll focus on constant learning and adjustment. In the same way, you’ll develop patience. Furthermore, you’ll understand that growth takes time. Thus, you’ll make better decisions. In addition, you’ll enjoy the journey more. As a result, your business will actually succeed not despite being imperfect, but because you accept imperfection and adjust constantly. And that’s the real secret to entrepreneurship that nobody teaches you in business school.
