Since adding these varieties to my container garden, I’ve observed a very interesting phenomenon. No, it’s not that tobacco budworms, the larvas of a brown moth, consider my plants their own special salad bar. It’s that the very same worm will change color to match the material it is feeding on. A worm on a white flower is a pale, almost yellowish color, while its brother, sister or cousin on a red blossom is…well… red. My favorite, although a voracious diner, is the striped pink and blackish creature that is so perfectly concealed on its matching bloom.
This miracle of nature isn’t all that unusual. There are many examples of plants and animals that can “change their stripes” to fit in with their surroundings. As humans, can we do the same? It seems with the current economic environment, many of us are being asked to transform – to adopt different behaviors, learn additional skills and define a “new normal” for ourselves, our families and, perhaps, our employees.
Large numbers of laid-off workers are returning to school and pursing training in occupations with critical shortages, such as health care and adult education. Others are using severance to become entrepreneurs. History has shown that when times are the worst, innovation peaks. Companies like IBM, AT&T and Eli Lilly were all started when economic indicators were bleak. After all, who wants to change or try something new when everything is going well? Who would grab and discharge a fire extinguisher unless the building is burning?
As with the worms in my garden, it’s about transforming ourselves to survive. What ideas do you have?