Last fall, I convinced my girlfriend that planting hundreds of tulip bulbs would be a good use of our time.
It actually was.
We had a great time. Not because we expected a big return on investment, but because we genuinely enjoyed the process. There’s something satisfying about putting in effort now for something you won’t see results from for a long while.
Some of those bulbs were in perfect shape. Others were moldy, soft, and frankly questionable. We planted them anyway.
Back in Oregon, I used to joke that planting tulips was like sticking ice cream cones in the ground for the local wildlife. Squirrels, gophers, moles—you name it. But here in Ohio, our team of barn cats takes their rodent control duties seriously. The bulbs had a fighting chance.
Now it’s spring, and they’re blooming. Even the ones we weren’t sure about.
It’s a solid reminder: not everything you invest in shows progress right away. Sometimes it takes months. Sometimes it looks like nothing is happening at all. But that doesn’t mean the effort is wasted.
If you're in the thick of something that feels repetitive, uncertain, or just plain slow, hang in there. You might be planting something that simply needs more time.
That’s the same mindset behind the Vida Vlog, which I started after bringing Vida home last November. She had just turned seven months old, and even now at twelve months, she’s still very much a puppy. The vlog tracks the small, foundational pieces that don’t look flashy but lay the groundwork for everything that comes later.
If you’re looking for help with the “in-between” stuff—whether you’ve got a puppy, a young dog, or an older one—the Vida Vlog is for you. It’s not just about sit-stays or weave poles. It’s about:
✔️ how to teach a dog to learn
✔️ how to build motivation and focus
✔️ how to help your dog function ringside
✔️ how to develop engagement
✔️ and more
🎥 You can check out a free preview here:
theagilitychallenge.com/free-training
Agility Challenge Members have full access to the Vida Vlog and every other course on the site. But even the preview might help you see what you’re planting—and what could bloom later.
If this kind of reflection resonates with you — if you’ve ever found yourself frustrated by your own mindset, or wondering why you just can’t seem to stay grounded when it matters — I have something for you.
It’s called Mindset Matters. It’s a free eBook I wrote for agility handlers and trainers who want to grow not just their skills, but their mental game. It’s full of insights, prompts, and tools that will help you come back to yourself, over and over again.
Sign up for my email list using the form below, and you'll get my Mindset Matters eBook delivered right to your inbox, as well as these thoughts, stories, tips, tricks, training thoughts, and more!