I grew up in Laird, Saskatchewan, where my parents had rows and rows of raspberry canes. Every year, Mum handed us the secateurs and told us to prune hard. I remember one day I’d worked through what felt like a mile of raspberry canes and proudly told Mum I’d finished. She walked the row, then proceeded to chop and prune even more—ruthless! I protested there wouldn’t be enough left to grow anything. I was so sure… and I was so wrong. That season we had heaps of raspberries—the plump, juicy kind—and we did everything with them: jam, pies, and my favourite… on top of vanilla ice cream. We filled up gallons of raspberries. These days, living in Sydney, it still makes me smile (and wince) to pay $5 for a small punnet.

Last week I filmed a short video at See Saw Wines, walking the vines and admiring how bare they look after pruning. It took me straight back to those raspberry rows—and to a principle that keeps shaping my career: pruning isn’t punishment; it’s preparation.

If you’ve ever walked through a vineyard in winter, you’ll see vines that have been cut way back—almost bare. At first, it seems harsh. Why would you chop off something you worked so hard to grow?

But in winemaking, pruning is key. It’s how you help the vine focus its energy. Instead of growing too much and spreading itself thin, the vine puts everything into producing fewer, better grapes.

I think about that a lot when it comes to professional development. Sometimes we take on too much—projects, goals, responsibilities—thinking that more is better. But real growth often means cutting back. Saying no. Focusing on what actually matters.

It’s not about doing everything. It’s about doing the right things well. Just like in the vineyard, the best results come when we grow with intention.

And here’s the simple “pruning plan” I’m using this quarter—feel free to steal it:

  • Keep: The two initiatives that create the most value for clients.
  • Start: One habit that sharpens my craft (not five).
  • Stop: One commitment which for me is ‘Just Go!’ with the most important professional projects
  • Say no to: Anything that doesn’t move the mission forward.
  • Review monthly: Are my “grapes” (results) getting better?

My video from See Saw Wines is below — hope it gives you a fresh lens for your own pruning. What’s one thing you’ll cut back this month so the best fruit can grow?

#ProfessionalGrowth #LeadershipLessons #LessButBetter #VineyardWisdom #IntentionalWork #breakthroughcorporatetraining #corporatetraining #leadership