Three Minute Leadership: Lessons from the Giant Bamboo Tree
To: The Great Leaders Who Have a Passion for Continuous Learning
In Don Miller’s Trading Journal, Miller shares Eric Aronson’s story, Keep Watering Your Bamboo Tree. It tells of the giant Chinese Moso bamboo tree that holds learning for great leaders in their pursuit of their goals and dreams in life.
“In the Far East, there is a tree called the Chinese bamboo tree. This remarkable tree is different from most trees in that it doesn’t grow in the usual fashion. While most trees grow steadily over a period of years, the Chinese bamboo tree doesn’t break through the ground for the first four years. Then, in the fifth year, an amazing thing happens – the tree begins to grow at an astonishing rate. In fact, in a period of just five weeks, a Chinese bamboo tree can grow to a height of 90 feet. It’s almost as if you can actually see the tree growing before your very eyes.”
Metaphorically, life’s journey, personal and professional, is filled with giant Chinese bamboo trees – dreams, visions, ideas and plans. Years of unseen results are sometimes required for their roots to grow and shape their foundation. Daily watering is needed, those small steps that contribute to their growth with every precious drop making a small difference Over time, they become realized and blossom in their full magnificence.
Great leaders learn great lessons from this story: the importance of planting a dream, the necessity of doing those daily activities that contribute to its growth, a need for perseverance and fortitude in their pursuit as they go beyond their own fear and doubt, and the joy of a relentless passion and belief that they will one day realize their dream and vision. They never give up. May you remember the words that Miller tells us: “You have a bamboo tree inside of you just waiting to break through. So keep watering and believing and you too will be flying high before you know it.”
Have a beautiful day and a magnificent week!!!
Mike
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