Blossom into greatness

THE tools you use determine the insights you get. In my work as a consultant and facilitator, I am always searching for tools.

Hunt For Greatness

Milton Kamwendo

Some of the tools like the “Strength-Weakness-Opportunities-Threats” model — normally called a SWOT analysis — have been handy and faithful over the years.

For a tool to be handy and useful it must be easy to understand and apply.

Every faithful handyman is always open to buy one more tool.

In the journey towards personal and professional greatness, the “Rose, Thorn and Bud” strategy tool offers a unique, reflective approach.

It easily transforms challenges into stepping stones and aspirations into achievements.

This introspection and planning tool is useful for evaluation. It is also a compass and liberates conversations in a meeting, allowing for useful engagement.

Rose, Thorn and Bud Tool

At its core, the Rose, Thorn and Bud tool is about balance analysis.

It can be used at a personal, team or organisational level.

It allows you to acknowledge your successes (rose), confront your challenges (thorn) and nurture your potential (bud).

This three-part view gives a balanced assessment of your current state, helping you build on what works, addressing what does not, as well as anticipating potential.

Rose

These allow for the celebration of successes and strengths.

Every journey has its high points. It is crucial to recognise and celebrate them. Roses are your victories. Appreciate them no matter how small or grand. They are reminders of your blessings, capabilities and achievements. These successes are the blooms in your garden of the greatness journey.

Reflecting on your roses boosts your morale and confidence. In the pressure to do more and be more, you can often overlook counting your blessings and achievements. Taking stock of these rose moments inspires you and refuels your motivation. It offers valuable insights into what works. What is working points to what you need to double down on.

Thorns

Challenges are not meant to be ignored but faced with faith, hope, courage and realism. Thorns represent challenges, setbacks and areas needing improvement. Do not shy away from confronting the thorny aspect. Acknowledge your challenges and work on overcoming them.

Thorns are not signs of failure but opportunities for growth and learning. They are the breakfast of all greatness.

When you identify your thorns, approach them with a problem-solving, growth and possibility mindset. Analyse what led to these challenges and think about the strategies to overcome them.

This process resolves existing issues, strengthens your resilience and equips you with lessons for future challenges. Challenges on the path to greatness will always come; it is how you face them that makes the difference.

Buds

Buds are the most forward-looking aspects of this strategy tool. They point to potential, new ideas and growth areas. In every bud lies the promise of a future rose. Identifying your Buds involves recognising untapped opportunities, undeveloped skills and unfulfilled aspirations.

Greatness is never an arrival, but a journey of growth and development.

Nurturing your buds requires a combination of humility, planning and action. Set realistic goals and create actionable plans to achieve them. Invest in learning new skills, listen and learn, explore new ideas and take calculated risks. Your buds are your investment in the future. The investment of today is the greatness of tomorrow.

Nurture your buds even if few can see them. They will blossom.

Like any tool, the more you use it the better results you start getting. Make using the Rose, Thorn and Bud tool a regular practice.

Plan weekly, monthly or quarterly reflection sessions where you identify each of these elements. Write your reflections in a journal. Discuss them with a mentor, coach or your team. This reflection provides clarity and ensures accountability.

In work and organisational spaces, this tool can transform team meetings, strategy reviews and project evaluations. It creates a culture of open communication. Successes are celebrated, challenges are openly discussed and future opportunities are eagerly anticipated.

Incorporating the Rose, Thorn and Bud tool into your life and work is like tending to a garden. It requires patience, attention and care. Greatness is a garden that you need to keep lovingly tending. Stop thinking of greatness as a terminal station. It is a journey of fulfilling your purpose and unleash all your potential.

In using any tool, balance is key. Celebrate and savour your achievements. Build on what works. The sky is not falling and hope is not dead. Learn from your setbacks and bounce back. Fight out of your corner. Outthink your challenges. Eagerly anticipate future growth and keep learning and growing.

May this thought by Mandy Hale keep you passionately growing, changing and making a difference: “Growth is painful. Change is painful. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don’t belong.”

You belong in the arena of greatness.

Milton Kamwendo is a leading international transformational and motivational speaker, author and an accomplished workshop facilitator. He is a cutting-edge strategy, team-building and organisation development facilitator and consultant. He can be reached at: [email protected]