The little plant that could

The driveway is pavement and the garage floor is concrete. There is the smallest space where they meet. The sun beats down on this every day. There must be all of a teaspoon of soil in the space. Yet, a little seed landed here took root. The portulaca is flourishing. Who would have thought?

Seeing this plant reminded me of marketing. Well, maybe that is a stretch, but I am in a marketing mindset as I get ready to attend a big marketing conference in Boston next week.

How does this plant relate to marketing?

 1.  Persistence can conquer mountains.

Portulacas are annuals, meaning they grow for one season. They are also self-seeding, so the seeds created in one season can grow in the next season. It was actually two years ago that we had portulacas on our steps.  Starting a marketing effort may seem overwhelming at first, but if you take that first step and persist , you will see results.

2. It doesn’t take much to flourish.

I can’t imagine a more hostile environment for a plant than in some pavement.  With the prevalence of social media, it’s pretty easy to create an awesome marketing campaign.  And it doesn’t  have to cost a lot of money!

3. Let your uniqueness stand out.

Every time I see this plant, I marvel at the wonder of nature.  I live in a lovely, leafy suburb where people take a lot of pride in their yards.  There are lots of flowers around. But I notice this one a lot since it stands alone.  Don’t be one of the crowd, sing the praises of what makes you and  your company unique.

What everyday sights inspire you?

Portulaca picture is thanks to Mr. Ken, photographer extraordinaire.