Hyphenated-Homestead

No, there is no typo.

Umpteen years ago, when we first moved into our beautiful neighborhood, the sight of a deer family grazing gracefully in our yard felt like a Disney movie. Fawns frolicking, proud parents watching—it was charming, magical even. Guests would say, “You have deer in your front yard? Wow, you’re so lucky!” And honestly, we agreed.

But that was then.

Now? The deer have unionized. They’ve multiplied, mobilized, and have decided that anything green and flowering within a 5-mile radius is a salad bar—my yard being the all-you-can-eat buffet.

This year, I was determined to protect the few pops of color we have in our front yard, especially the lilies by our mailbox. It’s not Versailles, but those blooms spark joy. And like any responsible gardener under attack, I built a fence—a modest wire mesh to ward off nibbling noses.

Except…I left the top open.

Cue suspense music.

Just yesterday, we were so close— multiple buds were about to bloom, and I was dreaming of Instagram-worthy mailbox moments. And then, in just two hours, it was all gone. Poof. Eaten. Ravaged. No trace of the promise that was. The deer had gotten in—again.

I was gutted. The kind of “just let me sit here and sigh dramatically” sadness. You plant, you nurture, you protect—and nature still finds a way to humble you.

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The Leadership Tie-In

As I sat staring at the empty stems that used to be my lilies, I realized: this isn’t just a gardening story. It’s a leadership story.

Here’s the thing—like those deer, life (and work) will always test your boundaries. Whether you’re leading a team, a project, or your own personal growth, your “garden” needs protection. It needs intention. And when the defenses are half-baked or hastily designed (hello, open-top fence), it’s an invitation for chaos to usher in.

So, what did I do? I got up this morning, went back out there, and fixed the darn fence. I patched it, reinforced it, and this time, I covered the top.

Because leadership isn’t about never failing—it’s about showing up after something’s been chewed up and saying, “Not today.”

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Your Turn: How Are Your Boundaries Holding Up?

• What in your life keeps getting “eaten” because your boundaries are too open?
• Where are you leaving space for energy-drainers, timewasters, or idea-nibblers to slip in?
• What would it look like to fully protect your lilies—the parts of your work and life that bring you joy and color?

We don’t always get to control the deer in our lives.

But we can decide how we respond, what we build, and how committed we are to protecting what matters.

Because sometimes leadership looks like wire mesh, zip ties, and a little duct tape determination.

And yes, I have the video to prove it.

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