What My Chilies Taught Me About Social Selling

Eight months ago, I planted chili seeds. Yesterday, I harvested them. The journey taught me some valuable lessons about social selling that I’d love to share.

Planting Seeds is the Easy Part, But Growth Needs Consistency

Much like in social selling, it’s easy to start. You send a message, publish a post, or reach out to a potential lead. But those efforts need steady nurturing. Just like chilies need warmth to grow, your social selling strategy requires consistent effort. Sporadic outreach won’t yield strong relationships, just like a chilly environment won’t grow healthy plants.

Focus on the Strongest Prospects

When you plant seeds, not all of them will thrive. Some are weak, and others won’t sprout at all. After a few weeks, it’s time to focus on the strongest plants. The same applies to social selling. You might reach out to many prospects, but not all of them will respond. Nurture the ones that show interest and promise—don’t waste energy on the ones that won’t grow.

Patience and Timing Are Everything

Just like a gardener tends to their plants, social sellers must nurture their leads patiently. Growth doesn’t happen overnight. Relationships take time, and just like with chilies, you need to wait for the right moment to harvest. But keep up the care—don’t abandon your prospects because they aren’t ready yet.

Start in a Greenhouse, But Prepare for Resistance

In gardening, starting in a controlled environment like a greenhouse gives plants a strong start. But eventually, they need exposure to the wind to grow strong stems. Similarly, in social selling, it’s great to start with a well-crafted strategy and a warm network. But don’t avoid resistance. Those tough conversations, objections, and pushback? That’s where your leads grow stronger, and your relationship deepens.

Remember, steady effort and care pay off in the long run, just like with gardening.