Share Tips for Success

By Lawrencina Mason Oramalu

A flourishing garden doesn’t just “happen.” It thrives because someone learned, experimented, and shared what worked. The same is true for successful leaders, teams, speeches, and organizations. Growth is faster and stronger when wisdom is shared, different perspectives are embraced, high expectations are set, and deep relationships are nurtured.

This is post 7 of 8, in my The Joy of Planting Seeds blog series. In this blog, I’ll explore three essential strategies to help gardens—and people—grow:

🌼 Share Tips for Success

🌼 Embrace Cross-Pollination, and

🌼 Expect Growth

❤️ Sharing Is Caring

As mentioned in earlier posts, gardening didn’t come naturally to me. I told myself I didn’t have a green thumb, and I believed that narrative for years. But my mindset changed when I discovered resources that could guide me.

My first few attempts at gardening failed—seeds planted in Minnesota didn’t thrive, and tulips in Texas withered under the hot sun. But the third time really was the charm. This time, I read the cards attached to each plant, which gave tips about ideal growing conditions. Because I knew my front yard received hours of direct sunlight, I chose flowers that could thrive there. A month later, they were flourishing.

Why? Because I followed expert advice.

Whether in gardening, leadership, or life, success is easier to achieve when we learn from those who’ve already walked the path. And once we’ve learned, we should be willing to share those insights with others.

💫 Success Is Meant to Be Shared

Great gardeners don’t keep their tips to themselves—and neither should we.

One of the things I love about Toastmasters is its supportive structure and culture of mentorship. Growth is built into every level—from individual members to entire districts. When we started our Toast with Confidence club, we were assigned two experienced mentors who attended all our meetings for six months to help us thrive.

In addition to mentorship, Toastmasters offers a library of online resources and a monthly magazine full of communication and leadership tips. Growth isn’t just encouraged—it’s expected and celebrated.

Thanks to the guidance we received, our club achieved Distinguished Chapter status in its first year. The next year, we were invited to speak at the D25 Education Conference to share how we achieved that goal. In the spirit of mentorship, I co-presented with our club president, a college student who had grown tremendously in her leadership.

When success is shared, it multiplies.

🌼 Embrace Cross-Pollination

In the garden, cross-pollination leads to stronger, more resilient plants. In life and leadership, it does the same.

Sometimes we limit ourselves by only learning within our field or circle. But collaboration across disciplines, cultures, and industries can spark incredible growth.

A recent visit to a manufacturing company reminded me of this. We chose the company because of its commitment to women in leadership, but I wasn’t sure how relevant the visit would be for students outside business or engineering. To my surprise, the experience was transformational. The theme “Built to Lead” resonated deeply, and even our health sciences students left inspired.

It was a powerful reminder: leadership doesn’t only happen in boardrooms—it happens on factory floors, in team huddles, and anywhere people are inspired to grow.

This echoes our experience in Toastmasters. Our first club president was a nursing major who became one of our strongest leaders and biggest ambassadors. She believed in the value of what we were building—and helped others believe too.

🌷Beauty and Inspiration Are All Around Us

The other day, I wasn’t feeling like my usual cup-half-full self. I needed a mental reset, so I decided to step away from my desk and take a walk around campus. Not only is walking good for your body—it’s good for your mind and spirit, too. I’m usually one of those people who stays glued to their office, focused on work, rarely venturing outside. I do my best to fill our office with sunshine, joy, and positivity, but sometimes I need to feel the actual sunshine and reconnect with God’s beauty.

I’ve always loved butterflies, and I knew our campus had a butterfly garden—but surprisingly, I had never visited it. That day, I decided to explore. I followed a path of blooming flowers and a gentle waterfall, and what I discovered took my breath away. I saw vibrant flowers, fluttering butterflies—and yes, buzzing bees.

At first, I wanted to run from the bees. I was afraid they might sting me. But then I remembered: we need bees. They’re vital for pollination and for keeping gardens—and ecosystems—alive.

In life and in leadership, the very things that initially make us uncomfortable or afraid may actually be what helps us grow. Sometimes, the people or departments we misunderstand or avoid are the ones carrying the very insight or innovation we need. Maybe we need to stop running from the bees—and start learning from them.

Get out of your office. Step outside your comfort zone.

Talk to someone in another department, join a different club, attend a new event, or visit a different campus.

Sometimes, the most powerful growth happens when we let ourselves be pollinated by new perspectives.

How to Encourage Cross-Pollination:

• Invite team members to explore ideas outside their major or department

• Encourage interdisciplinary projects and discussions

• Mix diverse voices and perspectives in meetings and programs

🪴Expect Growth

When I was planting flowers, a few looked like they were dead. I almost threw them out—but something in me said to wait. I gave them a little extra attention and time. Weeks later, those same plants began to bloom.

This reminded me of what we often face as leaders and educators. Sometimes, growth isn’t immediately visible. But with belief, encouragement, and individualized support, transformation can happen.

Not every student or team member comes prepared in the same way. People learn differently, are motivated by different things, and carry unique strengths and struggles. As leaders, it’s our job to adapt our guidance to help each person succeed. Does it take extra time? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely.

I believe in the potential of every student—and I believe in holding high expectations. That balance of grace and grit can be challenging, but it’s necessary. Grace shouldn’t mean settling for less than someone’s best.

At the start of this year, our Toast with Confidence club wasn’t on track to meet our goals. I had a one-on-one with our president and reminded her that leadership starts with modeling what we want to see. She rose to the occasion—and led our team with renewed purpose and energy. She encouraged, celebrated, and called our team higher. As a result, we’re back on track to achieve Distinguished Club status—and maybe even reach the next level.

🖊️Final Thought: Stronger Together

No garden flourishes with just one type of plant.

When we share wisdom, embrace diverse perspectives, and nurture growth, we create something far more powerful than we could alone. So this week, ask yourself:

Who can I learn from that sees the world differently than I do?

Who can I encourage by sharing what I’ve learned?

💐 Let’s plant seeds of success—together