True Story: In my previous career as a cut flower farmer, another grower, whose operation I’d visited out in the Midwest, called and asked how we grew those gorg French tulips that clients like Whole Foods were clamoring for.  Happy to reciprocate, I shared detailed growing information, outlining everything from temperature to variety.

In other words, the key ingredients and specific directions for a recipe that had taken years to perfect.

In the final moments of the call, the grower thanked me and said they were presenting a session at a national conference on how to grow tulips.

I was in disbelief.

Literally stunned silent.

To this day, it stands as one of my most important experiences in business.

We put safeguards in place that hadn’t been.

We assessed risk.

But it was the words of a friend that turned out to be most helpful.

They told me that someone can take information, but not what it takes to grow the tulip.

Grow you — your curiosity and creativity, your desire to learn and stretch, your drive for excellence, your capacity for strategic thinking, your inclination toward experimentation and innovation, your tolerance for smart risk, your resilience and ability to get up off the mat when you get knocked down, your passion and desire to contribute, your hope to make a mark that makes a difference.

That’s what grows the tulip.

And it cannot be stolen.

Footnote: As demand grew, we transitioned into growing cut lilies exclusively and took tulips off the menu.  We continued to become increasingly well known as the brand of cut flower excellence in both product and service, and lost track of that grower as the business moved to an entirely different sphere of success.

That friend was spot on.

Planning Your Virtual Conference or Event?

“Three of Eight” is my brand new talk on the 3 most critical factors of Magnificent Leadership® for leading right now, including the practical application for everyday challenges such as team morale, leading effectively from home, meeting deadlines and keeping standards high, and doing more than just reacting to problems and instead getting out in front to drive success.  Want to emerge in more than just fits and starts?
Email me for booking information: sarah@sarah-levitt.com

By far the most popular topic that I’ve been invited to speak on to executive and general audiences alike for the last several months is, “Reconnecting with Resilience™: The 4 Key Investments for Leading through COVID and Beyond” at organizations like Floor & Décor, Caterpillar, Deloitte and conferences like the National Association of Corporate Treasurers, Wells Fargo Retail Summit, and the North Carolina School of Banking.

More Webinar Topics for Your Virtual Conferences and Events:

New!  “Three of Eight: Applying Magnificent Leadership’s® Key Factors Right Now”
Want to emerge in more than fits and starts?  Practical leadership application for: boosting team morale and productivity during WFH, reducing organizational silos, meeting deadlines and keeping standards high, and driving momentum and success for the future

VIP Velvet Rope Offering: Customized Roundtable Discussion for Your Select Attendees
You choose whom to invite, we craft a signature offering that can only be found through you, and I bring unique content and lead a discussion among participants

Reconnecting with Resilience™: Leading through COVID and Beyond
The 4 key investments to make in yourself and your team to successfully navigate the future

Magnificent Leadership® – Keys to Leading through Uncertainty with Success
Transform Uncertainty, Transcend Circumstance, and Claim the Future: Applying the 8 key factors

Six Month Strategy – Planning During Uncertainty
How to create and execute a responsive strategy for uncertain and volatile times

Bringing the Outside In: Cultivating the Soil of Entrepreneurship in Your Organization
How to foster speed, grow innovation, and encourage hustle

Magnificent Leadership®: Building Self-Correcting Teams™
Forget high performance and instead build a team that can function without you

For booking information, contact me: sarah@sarah levitt.com