The First Soil to Sow is You

I once started a business I had no business starting.

It looked good on paper. I had the drive, the passion, the logo, and a clever name. I threw together a website, posted on social media, and waited for the money to roll in. But it didn’t.

What I lacked was depth—knowledge, strategy, financial discipline, and the kind of grit that only grows from deliberate self-investment. The business eventually fizzled out. And while it stung, it also woke me up.

That experience taught me something priceless: if you truly believe in sowing and reaping, the first place to sow is in yourself. 

1. Start with You: Education Is the First Investment

After that failed attempt, I didn’t rush into another venture. Instead, I made a decision to become better. I enrolled in courses, read obsessively, sought mentors, and upskilled in the areas I was weakest. It wasn’t glamorous, and it didn’t come with quick wins—but it gave me the tools I needed to actually build something that could last.

Formal education is great, but personal education—what you choose to learn on your own time—is where real transformation begins.

2. Start Something—Even If It’s Small

Once I started gaining clarity and confidence, I started again—this time with better planning and realistic expectations. I didn’t wait for a perfect time or a huge capital injection. I just started. Small. Lean. Focused.

Every sale, every client, every late night—I treated them as seeds in the ground. And with consistency, things began to grow.

The business might still be in its early stages, but this time, it has roots.

3. Money Is a Tool—Learn How to Use It

One of the most important lessons I had to learn on the go was how to manage money. It’s one thing to make money—it’s another to keep it, grow it, and use it wisely.

I started reading about wealth creation, applying sound financial principles, and making smarter decisions about spending and investing. Financial literacy wasn’t something I waited to acquire “when I got rich”—it became part of my growth journey.

No Seeds, No Harvest

Here’s what I know now: nothing grows if you don’t plant.

That version of success I imagined when I launched my first business? It wasn’t wrong—it was just premature. I hadn’t planted enough in myself to sustain it.

The harvest always comes—but only after the sowing. And the first soil to tend is you.

So if you’re dreaming of big things, don’t just chase the outcome. Start by building the foundation. Invest in your mind, your skills, your financial wisdom. Start that hustle, be diligent, keep learning.

Because if you don’t sow—you won’t reap.

And no one else can do that planting for you.

Let me know if you'd like to add more personal details or tailor this for a specific publication!