day 839: Seed Stage

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in the field."

When I tell people I invest in companies at the "seed stage" they either immediately understand, or I have to explain to them what I personally mean by "seed stage". For me, a "seed stage" company is one where the business idea and the original team are encapsulated in a seed and planted just below the ground where it can't be yet seen. For anyone who has ever gardened, you know that this the most mysterious stage of growing. How can these little pellets turn out to be a big plant or vegetable? And, once they are in the ground it is all about doing our part of giving them protection from the elements, enough food and nutrients in the dirt, water and sunlight and then watching and waiting. That's what seed investing is like. It's funny, I know many investors who lose patience too quickly with a start-up and then force them to try and grow faster or differently than what they were intended. What I have learned is that sometimes you have to wait and be patient and with the right "gardening' and tending, they will come.

Jesus told us that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed. The mustard seed is the smallest of all and turns into a huge tree. But that mustard tree only grows at the pace that it is supposed to grow and if we someday want to sit within its' shade, we must wait. We must wait on the Kingdom of Heaven. God gives us glimpses along the way but He expects our faith to be strong enough that waiting for something miraculous is just fine with us. What has ever come from instant gratification? Not much that I can conjure up. Today is about another step forward in our journey to God's Kingdom. Let's make the most of today and do all that we can to purposefully work to bring glory to Him in what we do.

Reference: Matthew 13:31 (New Living Testament)

day 231: Planting Seeds

It's a common phrase that we hear frequently at work; "I just want to plant a seed with you". When you dissect this and think about it this can be an interesting statement that someone makes. They can actually mean one of a few different things. They might be meaning that they are want to give you a positive idea and they want you to hear it first. They might have an idea that is brewing in their head and they want to use you as a sounding board. Or, they might be thinking something totally different and wanting to start a rumor or put a thought of doubt about someone or something else in your head so that the seed can germinate with you and and you take on the doubtful or suspicious thought. I also find it interesting that we say we want to plant a seed, one seed, when in reality anyone knows that one seed doesn't usually take care of the job. Regardless, people are planting seeds all the time at work and it is important that we recognize the difference in positive and negative ideas and thoughts and how these are managed. It seems to be a tendency at work to plant negative seeds about each other so that we get ahead by tearing down someone else, or look better with the boss, or get the upper-hand or edge on the others around us. And, it is so easy to fall into proliferating these thoughts and words when we allow for others to drop and plant their seeds with us. That is not the ground that God wants us to till and fertilize. God wants us to plant a different type of seed on our jobs. He wants us to be seen as caring, loving, forgiving, approachable, merciful and gracious, all while standing for values and principles that are His. When we do that He asks us to not plant one seed, but many. Paul says this to us in 2 Corinthians: "Remember this- a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop." So today, as you head back to the fields of your work, sow and plant the right seeds with assurance, confidence and faith that the holy seeds that you plant generously will take hold and be of great and positive consequence to many.

Reference: 2 Corinthians 9:6 (New Living Testament)