A Note from Julie, the Greenhouse Curator:

A few weeks ago, I noticed something new growing on my philodendron.

 

I assumed it was another leaf. This plant almost always has at least one new leaf growing, so I didn’t think much of it.

 

But as it developed, I realized it wasn’t a leaf at all. It was a flower. 🤩

 

I didn’t even know philodendrons could flower. Apparently, it’s pretty rare indoors, which made it feel even more special.

 

The funny thing is, I hadn’t been trying to make this plant flower. I’d just been taking care of it in the usual way: giving it enough light, adding my favorite liquid plant food when I water it, and occasionally dusting its large leaves.

 

I’d created the right conditions for the plant to thrive, but I couldn’t control whether it would flower.

That feels a lot like running a proofreading or editing business.

 

We can make our services clear, respond quickly to potential clients, do careful work, and market ourselves consistently. But we can’t force client projects to appear. Sometimes all we can do is create the conditions that make it more likely to happen.

 

We might think progress should look like a packed schedule, a big new client, or a jump in income. But maybe it's more confidence in your rates or stronger boundaries.

 

What looks like “just another leaf” might actually be something new.

 

Here are some signs of progress that are easy to overlook:

You can’t force the outcome or control the timing. But you can keep focusing on the parts of your business that are within your control.

 

Make it easy for prospective clients to understand what you do. Give people a reason to recommend you. Keep improving the way you work. Stay visible, even when things feel quiet.

 

And when something new starts to grow, take a closer look. It might be more than just a new leaf. 🪴

Here are three posts I enjoyed reading on LinkedIn recently. Click the links below to read them.

When I saw this phrase in a transcript I was proofreading this week, I wasn’t completely sure which spelling was correct. I had to stop and look it up.

 

In the expression “the die is cast,” die refers to a single game die, and cast means thrown. According to Etymonline, the phrase has been used since the 1630s and refers to the throw of the dice. It translates the Latin alea iacta est, attributed to Julius Caesar when he crossed the Rubicon.

 

The phrase means that events have been set in motion that can’t be reversed.

 

Dye is associated with adding or changing color.

 

We’ve had several thunderstorms in our area recently, including one that brought a nice rain shower last night. When I went outside this morning to check on the plumosa fern growing on my trellis, it was covered in raindrops. They looked so beautiful sparkling in the early light. 💎

Let's keep growing together!

What did you think of today's email? I'd love to hear your thoughts, questions, or feedback. Email julie@theproofreadergreenhouse.com

 

If this newsletter was forwarded to you or you found a link to it online, why not get The Leaflet delivered straight to your inbox? ✨ Subscribe now ✨ for grammar tips, tricky word pairs, client strategies, and helpful online tools.