Stardate 02.18.2026
Some may say I’m lucky because I seem to meet people at just the right time and place.
I know better.
Most of what I do happens quietly — offstage, away from public view. Seeds are planted long before anyone sees the harvest.
Recently, I spent time with a husband-and-wife team who teach others how to think like entrepreneurs. The husband shared that he opened his business at the very beginning of the pandemic. Most businesses struggle even in the best of seasons. Starting during a global shutdown? That requires courage.
The wife offered a simple illustration that has stayed with me.
“A carrot doesn’t have much value when you begin with just a carrot. But when you cut it, prepare it, and combine it with something else — now you’ve added value.”
I let that lesson simmer.
Then I began looking at the “carrots” in my own life.
What have I been holding in its simplest form?
Where could I prepare it differently?
Who could I partner with?
What possibilities are waiting if I’m willing to combine gifts instead of guarding them?
Value often increases through collaboration.
The countdown clock is ticking now. Soon, I will reveal something special — something shaped not by rushing, but by layering, refining, and teaming up with people willing to dream alongside me.
One item near the top of my checklist is to return to the farm where these mentors reside and thank them in person. Gratitude is a form of added value too. If permission is granted, I hope to share a conversation with them on Substack — a place where wisdom can be passed along like seeds for others to plant.
Growth doesn’t happen in isolation.
It happens when ordinary carrots are prepared with intention and shared generously.
“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” — Proverbs 16:3
Join me here: https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong
🖖 Captain’s Addendum
Spock: “It would appear, Doctor, that even a carrot possesses unrealized potential.”
Bones: “I’ve seen you turn stranger things into opportunity, Spock. But I’ll admit — there’s something to that.”
Spock: “Indeed. Preparation plus partnership often yields superior outcomes.”
Michael’s reflection:
I’m learning that nothing in my life is wasted — not experience, not relationships, not even quiet seasons. When I add gratitude, collaboration, and faith, ordinary things become meaningful gifts.
If today feels simple, don’t underestimate it. Perhaps you’re holding a carrot that only needs preparation and partnership to become something nourishing for many.
Thank you for walking this journey with me. May your quiet work today be blessed, seen, and multiplied in ways you cannot yet measure.
