Originally published by Orange Leaf Consulting on November 20, 2019
Sometimes I’m asked about the origin of our company name, Orange Leaf Consulting. Well, there’s a definite thought behind it, and no, it doesn’t have anything to do with citrus fruit or yogurt!
In the fall, when the weather cools, the changing of the seasons is vividly reflected in the leaves of many trees. You start to see it the minute the summer begins to fade—the first green leaf slowly but surely changes color to a bright orange.
And then another, and another, and before you know it, that tree and the trees around it are looking entirely different.
Well, that’s the way it is with new ideas in business. Some companies are like evergreens—never changing, standing steadfast in the face of whatever Mother Nature throws their way.
But most companies are like deciduous trees—those that change. And a new idea can be like that first orange leaf of fall—something entirely different, something that doesn’t look like any of the other leaves at all.
And who doesn’t like to see the leaves change? We’ll sometimes drive miles to see the trees turn orange. The changing of the leaves not only represents change, but a change that most folks like, and don’t fear.
When those changes come from a good idea, pretty soon the rest of the leaves follow suit. Before long, the whole tree has turned from green to orange. And the process all began with that single solitary orange leaf.
As we go about our day-to-day, we keep our noses to the grindstone and our feet to the path. Persistence and hard work are admirable traits, but when we’re locked into that zone, we often forget to look up—and, friends, the leaves are changing.
Not just in the fall, but every day of every year. Those new ideas, tools, technologies, and advances in serving your customers are taking root and spreading—and before long, all of the trees in your forest may have changed color.
Except yours.
You see, if you keep your eyes are glued to the road ahead, you may miss it.
That’s why a balanced perspective is essential for success in today’s rapidly changing business environment. Stay on track, and stay focused on your goals, but never forget to take regular glimpses at the world around you.
Things are changing rapidly, and most of the time, it’s worth your while to consider changing with them.
Yes, the leaves are changing, folks….so don’t forget to look up!
Check out Dr. Cynthia McGovern’s latest book, Every Job is a Sales Job: How to Use the Art of Selling to Win at Work, an essential roadmap to achieving professional and personal success―from the “First Lady of Sales.”
Dr. Cynthia McGovern has dedicated her career to helping a wide variety of organizations and individuals achieve dramatic results in the areas of sales, leadership, and change management. Her vast experience working with organizations to create the changes they need to be more successful and her breadth of current knowledge in a wide variety of industries helps leaders strategize for growth, plan for change, get buy-in from employees and implement the new behaviors needed to succeed. This work gave birth to the Orange Leaf Consulting process. Holding her masters in communication and her doctorate degree in Organizational Communication, Cynthia has spent the last 14 years working with companies to create organizational change, so that they can continue to grow their business and build lasting relationships with their clients.
