How the Gardener vs Carpenter Mindset Could Shift Your Life
Are you planting something new or crafting something precise? This article explores two powerful mindsets — the gardener and the carpenter — and how understanding the difference could shift your approach to change.
A Fresh Take for New Beginnings
You’re here because you’re at a turning point. You’re questioning how you do things, what you value, and where you go from here. So here’s one to chew on:
Are you growing something — or building something?
How you answer might not only tell you where you are, but also how your mindset could shift your life.
What Is a Gardener Mindset?
Gardeners trust time and trust nature. They work with uncertainty. They don’t expect full control — they know that even the most thoughtful preparation still leaves things to the elements.
You can toss garlic over your shoulder and it’ll grow. That’s the magic. It’s not about precision — it’s about potential.
What it brings:
- Patience
- Flexibility
- An eye for long-term growth
But: Gardeners risk floating. If there’s no framework, things can sprawl or stall. It’s easy to live in a state of constant becoming without much arriving.
Still, the gardener mindset helps the FNG slow down, listen to what’s stirring, and trust the process.
And in the right moment, that mindset could shift your life — especially if you’ve spent years operating like a carpenter.
What’s the Carpenter Mindset?
Carpenters don’t guess. They measure twice, cut once. Everything’s got a plan, a place, a process. If a joint’s off, it’s not charming — it’s a problem.
The carpenter works in a controlled environment. Their success depends on skill. Mess is not a feature — it’s a flaw.
What it brings:
- Clarity
- Craftsmanship
- An obsession with detail
But: Perfection has a cost. One slip of the chisel and you might lose the piece. Carpenters can become rigid, trapped in their own structure — struggle to adapt when the world doesn’t match their blueprint.
If you’ve lived like this — following the plan, ticking the boxes — and now find yourself wondering what’s next, then allowing a bit of “gardener thinking” might be exactly how your mindset could shift your life.
Neither Is Perfect — Both Are Useful
The problem isn’t being one or the other. It’s being stuck.
The gardener can become too passive. The carpenter, too controlling. One can’t commit. The other can’t bend. Neither approach alone is enough to navigate any life transition.
But knowing when to switch gears?
That’s the stuff of real change. And that shift in mindset could very well change your life.
For a deeper dive, Alex Komoroske’s podcast, Systems Thinking, Builders vs Gardeners, explores how these two mindsets demonstrate how we approach growth, control, and the unpredictability of life itself.
So, What Does This Mean for the FNG?
If you’re in your 40s, 50s, or beyond, you’ve probably built plenty. Maybe it all looks good on paper — career, family, home, titles. You’ve earned those carpenter credentials.
But now?
Something feels like it’s ready to grow again. Not be built. Not pushed. Grown.
You might not know what it is yet — and that’s alright. That’s where the gardener steps in.
At The Farm, things happen in their season. Some seasons are for building strong walls. Others, for loosening the soil.
Recognising that rhythm — and learning to honour it — is exactly how this mindset could shift your life as the FNG.
Final Reflection
You’re not here to repeat yesterday. You’re here for something fresh — and meaningful. Whether that means planting something uncertain, or building something defined, is up to you.
The real question is: Which mindset does your life need right now?
Answer that, and you’re already shifting.
