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Why low-hanging fruit are dangerous

Why low-hanging fruit are dangerous

In this issue: the trap of low-hanging fruit, design lessons from color choice, what it means to be a quiet leader, and learning the power of daily habits through basketball.

PJ Milani
May 12, 2025

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🤔 INTERESTING

Illustration by milaniCREATIVE.art showing the consequences of only pursuing low-hanging fruit. On the left, our hero picks a low-hanging apple from a tree and fills their basket. On the right, our hero is lying on the ground, too full to reach higher, sweeter apples, illustrating how settling for easy gains can hinder long-term growth.

Join the conversation on LinkedIn

I've been thinking about growth lately. Not just in business, but in life too.

When you only pick the easiest opportunities:
→ The quick wins
→ The safe clients
→ The comfortable projects

You might feel productive at first. You fill your basket with early success.

But there's a hidden cost.

Each easy win adds weight to your basket.
Each comfortable choice makes you more comfortable.
Each safe decision builds habits of safety.

Until one day...you look up and realize you can't reach higher anymore. Not because you're incapable. But because you've trained yourself to stay low.

The most valuable opportunities rarely hang at eye level.

They require stretching. Sometimes even climbing.

I'm catching myself in this pattern lately. Working with the clients who find me. Writing about what's already in my comfort zone.

But the real growth is higher up in the tree.

What about you? Where are you picking only low-hanging fruit?

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📐 DESIGN

I had an embarrassing near-miss last week that taught me 3 valuable lessons about visual metaphors.

For context, I posted this carousel last week:

Illustration by milaniCREATIVE.art showing a speedometer above the phrase ‘You don’t need more speed.’ Below, the speedometer splits open to reveal a compass, with the text ‘You need more direction,’ emphasizing that clarity and purpose matter more than moving fast.

Illustration by milaniCREATIVE.art showing a clock above the text ‘You don’t need more time.’ Below it, the clock is split open revealing a blue target in the center, with the text ‘You need more focus,’ emphasizing that focus, not time, is the key to productivity.

Illustration by milaniCREATIVE.art contrasting passive ideation with active creation. At the top, an open hand gently holds a fragile lightbulb labeled “You don’t need more ideas.” Below, a clenched fist squeezes a pencil until ink or energy splashes out, under the caption “You need more execution.” A visual nudge that doing the work matters more than dreaming it.

But behind-the-scenes here’s what I almost posted:

Version 1

Final Version

I was seconds from publishing when I realized the yellow liquid in Version 1 might suggest something...unintended. 😬

Thank goodness for my trusted friends Hannah Smith (@quotedvisually) and Michael J. Boorman (@wisdommadeeasy) who confirmed suspicions and helped me pivot to something clearer (and less potentially mortifying).

3 Quick Takeaways

Colors carry meaning!
🔴 Red = stop, danger, wrong
🟢 Green = go, nature, correct
🟡 Yellow = slow, sun, caution (…and other stuff)
Break the creative spell to see clearly
When you're deep in the fog of creative flow, obvious issues become invisible. This is why perfectionism can be dangerous—better to finish and get perspective than work in a silo, perfecting endlessly.
Get trusted feedback
The best way to see through blind spots is having someone else point them out. Having 2-3 trusted people review your early drafts can save you from yourself (and save you from embarrassment too!).

🔮 ENCHANTING

Illustration by milaniCREATIVE.art contrasting two definitions of leadership using ladders. On the left, a figure stands at the top of a tall ladder holding a red diamond, labeled “This is not the leader.” On the right, another figure is shown assembling a ladder from raw materials, with the label “This is.” The image emphasizes that true leadership is not about personal success—it’s about building the path for others to rise.

Join the conversation on LinkedIn

I've been rethinking leadership lately.

Your impact isn't measured by how high you climb.
It's counted in how many others climbed BECAUSE of you.

"Top-of-the-ladder" folks:
→ Measure success by title and status
→ Chase personal achievements
→ Stand alone at the summit

True leaders:
→ Carve out paths for their teams
→ Often work quietly at ground level
→ Find delight in other people's wins

🧠 ANALOGY

Illustration by milaniCreative.art comparing the journey of building new habits. On Day 1, our hero stands next to a tall basketball hoop, appearing unsure. On Day 30, the same hero confidently dunks the ball into a now much smaller hoop, symbolizing how habits become easier with time and practice.

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Day 1 is all about courage.
Day 30 is proof of your commitment.

You'll be surprised what you can do in a month if you show up daily.

🤓 WHAT I’M READING NOW

“I Will Judge You By Your Bookshelf” by Grant S nider

If you haven’t heard of Grant Snider yet, you’re in for a treat. I love the unique mix of comics and poetry in his work, with plenty of visual metaphors sprinkled in for good measure.

"I Will Judge You By Your Bookshelf" is one of my favorites. It's exactly what it sounds like - a delightful look at how our bookshelves reveal who we are!

Grant has this incredible talent for sorting things into funny, clever categories that will make you smile and nod along. You'll definitely see yourself in some of his drawings about how we organize, love, and sometimes obsess over our books!

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