Transitions: Plant – How to Thrive

If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together – African Proverb

This month’s blog series is credited to Dr. Samson Gichuki.

Value-based relationships

As I write this, I’ve just marked 18 years in the United States, a journey shaped by transition after transition. I arrived fresh out of high school, with no roadmap and a lot to figure out.

From community college to a Ph.D., from job shifts to fatherhood, each stage brought uncertainty, stretching, and growth. But one thing made all the difference: value-based relationships. These were relationships with people who mentored me along the way; shared their time, opened up about their experiences, and created opportunities that helped me grow.

You Don’t Have to Arrive to Add Value

One of the most high-value relationships in my journey has been with Pastor David. What’s remarkable is that he added value to me while still navigating his own transitions. That shaped my conviction: you don’t have to “arrive” to make a difference. Every transition is a chance not just to grow, but to plant forward—to use what you have to help someone else thrive. From my journey with David and others like him, I’ve learned that two things make this possible: Availability and Generosity. Let’s look at each of these. 

1. Availability – Make Room for Others

One of the most impactful lessons I’ve learned during transitions is the power of simply being available. As I am  fine-turning my ability to lead well, I realized how instrumental availability is when it comes to working well with others. It often means stopping what I’m doing to help someone else, not because I have all the answers, but because being present matters. 

Availability is the soil where trust takes root. Every time I choose to be available, I’m not only positioning myself to learn and grow, I’m also sending a clear message: I see you, you matter to me, and your success is important. That kind of presence builds trust.

Being available means being interruptible. Transitions are already full, but creating space for others, even in the midst of your own challenges, can make a lasting difference. When you’re intentional about helping, open to spontaneous conversations, and willing to pause and listen, you plant seeds of trust and encouragement.

An open-door mindset creates moments for connection, support, and even mentoring. And the more available you are, the more generous you become, because you’re no longer overly fixated on yourself.

Availability is the soil where trust takes root

2. Generosity – Share What You Have

Transitions can tempt us to retreat inward, to conserve energy, protect time, and focus only on our next steps. But there’s something powerful about choosing to give even while you’re still growing.

For years now, Pastor David has made it a tradition to gift me books during key moments in my transitions: birthdays, getting married, and even when I became a dad. For example, one transformational book he placed in my hands was The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell. 

Later, I discovered that this was a book that had shaped his own leadership journey in earlier years. David grew through his own stages of life; he didn’t go alone – he picked me up along the way and added value to my journey, exemplifying generosity in transitions. 

Generosity is how we water the seeds of growth in others. When we give from what we’ve learned, even while still growing, we help others take root and rise stronger.

From his example and my own experience, I’ve learned that being generous during transitions requires two key mindset shifts:

• Get over yourself and think abundantly – We often hold back from giving because we’re more focused on our own shortcomings than someone else’s needs. But generosity requires vulnerability. When you move past self-doubt and choose to share, your wisdom, encouragement, or lessons, you don’t lose; you grow.
• Believe your experience has value – What you’ve lived through, even if it was messy, can be a lifeline for someone else trying to find their way.

When you make yourself available and generously share your wisdom and experiences, you multiply your influence and plant seeds of confidence and greatness in others that can grow into lasting legacy.

Final Thought: Every transition is a chance to grow, but the greatest impact comes when you plant forward and help others grow too.So the most impactful question isn’t “How fast are you moving through change?” It’s this:“Who are you becoming and who are you bringing with you?”

Keep on keeping on