Slowly but Surely – Every Little Bit of Manure Helps

In recent weeks, I often think back to all the little words of wisdom my grandmother shared with me—wise words about courage, success and patience¹. Funny enough, one little saying in particular keeps coming back to me: “Auch Kleinvieh macht Mist.”

Now, the literal meaning—“Even small livestock make manure”—might not sound like an inspiring motto, but trust me, it rings true in more ways than one:

– Confidence and courage
– Investment and return
– Growth and stability

Confidence and courage: Whatever stage we’ve reached in our professional lives, there will always be new challenges, new ambitions and new opportunities. We must always keep our heads high and our sights on the finish line. And sometimes that finish line may feel a bit like a small livestock farm. We may not be taking a prize bull to market just yet, but even a few chickens and goats can keep us going. Every little bit counts!

Investment and return: We’ve got the farming theory—now it’s time to put it into practice. That means rolling up our sleeves, turning the soil, planting different crops, and letting the herd (small or large) graze. The first harvest might not be as grand as we’d like, but with patience and effort—including a good amount of organic compost—the returns will grow!

Growth and stability: Because, at the end of the day, every little bit adds up. Today’s small investments—whether in skills, networking, or experience—become the solid foundation for tomorrow. Even the tiniest farm animals eventually produce a manure pile big enough to fertilise an entire field.

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Just finished an assignment at a medieval Registrar’s Office located inside an old castle in a village on the outskirts of Heidelberg. A lot of legal jargon, a fair bit of sight translation, and some fun new terms for my glossary. Small job? Sure. But, as the saying goes—even small livestock make manure.

A huge thanks to my University Lecturer, Mentor, and fellow interpreter @Sandra Liepelt for passing this opportunity my way. Every small step leads to the next.

1. I feel a speech coming on—nudge to @Bernd Mischke ↩︎