October Newsletter: Let's Talk About What Grows 🌱

It’s All About Where You Look

It’s October - that wonderful, crisp time of year when nature puts on a stunning show of color before resting. As we move into the final quarter, the perfect time to ask yourself a crucial question: Where are you directing your precious attention?

Here at Seeds of Change, we believe deeply in the wisdom of author and activist adrienne maree brown, who has said:

This isn't just about positive thinking; it’s a powerful framework for strategic focus. If you're constantly focused on what’s broken, you’ll find more broken things. If you deliberately and consistently focus on the green shoots - the innovations, the talented people, the strong relationships - that's what will take root and flourish.

Let's use the season as our cue. It's time to intentionally harvest the areas that matter most.

Happy focusing,
LaShauna Austria |  Founder, Seeds of Change Consulting

💦 The Three Seeds You Should Be Watering This Month 💦

In the day-to-day chaos, it’s easy to let your energy scatter. To cultivate real growth, we recommend three high-leverage areas that demand your focused attention right now:

1. The Vibe: Culture & Team Energy

• Pay attention to: Small wins and appreciation. Don't just wait for the big annual review. Shine a light on the daily efforts, the creative solutions, and the people who go the extra mile. Invest in their skills and ask them how they want to grow.

• What grows: Solidarity, engagement, and innovation. When people feel seen, they don't just clock in; they lean in. You're planting seeds of self-motivation.

2. The Garden: Partners & Relationships

• Pay attention to: The uncomfortable feedback. The most valuable growth comes from honest critique, not just praise. Set up intentional check-ins focused solely on asking, "How could we be better?" and truly listening to the answer.

• What grows: Trust and high-value opportunities. Relational trust is your most profitable asset. When you actively walk alongside them, they become your best advocates and partners for future expansion.

3. The Soil: Process & Operations

• Pay attention to: The hidden friction. What are the repetitive tasks, the unnecessary approvals, or the clunky systems that frustrate your team every day? Pick one major point of friction this month and dedicate the time to smoothing it out.

• What grows: Time and bandwidth. By fixing the mundane, you free up your team's mental space, their attention to focus on big-picture strategy and high-impact work instead of administrative sludge.

Your October Leadership Challenge: The Shine Box  ⛅🌤️☀️

To put adrienne maree brown's wisdom into action, try this easy, high-reward technique with your team:

1. Set the Stage: Start every team meeting by asking everyone to share one recent Moment of Growth or positive piece of feedback they have received.

2. The Victory Log: Keep a shared, visible digital log (a Slack channel, a digital whiteboard) that’s explicitly dedicated to celebrating wins, big or small. Call it your Shine Box ✨.

3. The Weekly Reframe: End your week by asking your leaders: What single piece of good news or positive data should we invest 10% more time in next week? This invites you to scale what's working, not just fix what's not.

A Cultural Focus: Honoring Contributions and Heritage 🇵🇭

🇵🇭 Celebrating Filipino American History Month

October is officially recognized as Filipino American History Month (FAHM), commemorating the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental U.S. in October 1587.

How You Can Pay Attention to This Legacy of Resilience:

Learn the History: Read about labor leader Larry Itliong and the Filipino role in the Delano Grape Strike. It was the Filipino-led Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) that initiated the strike on September 8, 1965, before asking Cesar Chavez's union to join.

Invest in Cultural Literacy: This month's history challenge is to understand the concept of Kapwa, a core Filipino value meaning shared inner self or interconnectedness.

Pakikipagkapwa-tao is the value of respecting others as you respect yourself, recognizing the dignity and humanity of every person. In the workplace, it means going out of your way to know the people you work with, smiling, greeting them, and building trust.

A Well-Being Focus: World Mental Health Day 🌎

October 10th was World Mental Health Day. As leaders, one of the most important things we can pay attention to is the well-being of our team. A drained person cannot innovate.

Quick Action: We’ve compiled a simple, downloadable guide to mindful breaks. Get your free copy and share it with your team.

Ready to Focus with Clarity? 💯

If you're tired of putting out fires and are ready for a disciplined, strategic approach to growth, let's talk about where you should be putting your attention!

Folks to Follow: Our Community in Action

Media

Seeds of Change Happenings

1. Implicit Bias Training Resource Site

2. Race & Racism 101 Resource Site

3. Understanding Power Resource Site

Community Happenings