Tomatoes anyone? They are free.

Colleagues,

I struggle to remove volunteer plants from my garden. There are tomatoes (literally hundreds!), green beans, lettuces, squash, and who-knows-what popping up everywhere.
 
This sounds great, right? Free plants!
 
Unfortunately, nothing is free. Those volunteer plants come at a cost:

• Space that could be used for something else
• Time to care for them
• Nutrients from the soil
• Extra nurturing if they are growing in a shaded spot

 
Undoubtedly, there will be a couple of these volunteers that come up in the right place at the right time. Perhaps one or two will be vigorous growers and be worth transplanting by the time I get around to dealing with them. But most of them will be in the way and will distract me from investing my time and energy into something that will be more productive.
 
Our organizations are like gardens in many ways, including the propensity for “things” to grow on their own. Sometimes these volunteer efforts are worth nurturing, but many times they aren’t.
 
Try looking at all the things happening around you and reflect on which things are really essential.
 
Do good and be well,
 
Frederick