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I came across this article from Shawn Lim who is a blogger and it really resonated with me.
The Bamboo Tree Story
There are many things we can learn from nature. And one of the most remarkable stories one can learn about success is from the story of the bamboo tree.
Like all other plants and trees, the Chinese bamboo tree requires nurturing through water, fertile soil, and also with enough sunshine to ensure that it grows.
If you plant a Chinese bamboo tree and you give it enough water, the right soil, and also enough exposure to sunlight, you will NEVER see any visible growth in the first year.
Even if you have done everything correctly, you will never see it grow. As you continue to nurture the bamboo tree, you will see no growth for the next 4 years.
But, in the fifth year, something amazing happens. The bamboo tree that you planted will grow to 80 feet tall in just six weeks!
Does this mean that within the first four years, nothing has happened to the bamboo? Not at all, in fact, the bamboo tree is growing, UNDERGROUND, but you can’t see it.
Because of its height, it requires a strong root system to support its growth. If the bamboo did not grow its strong root system in the first few years, it would never grow 80 feet above the ground.
The Bamboo Tree and Your Life
So, what does the bamboo tree has to do with you or your life? Everything. It is a perfect metaphor we can use to relate to many things we do in life.
Many people have dreams and goals. For instance, you may have a dream of building a successful business, or building a great career, or living your dream life.
In the first few years, no matter what career or business you venture into, it will be extremely difficult.
You may have poured in the necessary time and effort into your goals and projects, but nothing seems to be happening.
And this is just like the bamboo tree.
When most people pursue a goal or work on a project, if they don’t see any results after some time, they are going to give up.
I’m not sure where you are right now in your life, but it is very likely that there are goals that you have set but failed to achieve. Just think about why you failed at your goals.
The answer is common, I believe most people fail to achieve their goals because they give up and quit.
When people first set the goal, they feel excited and motivated. They are willing to take massive action.
However, after some time, especially when they don’t see any progress, they start to lose faith and hope. They start to lose their interest with the goal, which eventually leads them to quitting.
Does this sound familiar?
The 6 Success Lessons to Learn from the Bamboo Tree
This is why there is a great lesson to be learned from the bamboo tree. There are so many things we can learn from nature.
1. Success Doesn’t Come Right Away
The first success lesson you should learn from the bamboo tree story is that success does not come right away.
When you put in the hard work and dedicate a lot of your time to your goals and dreams, it does not mean that you will get to see the result immediately.
Give your goals and dreams more time. And at the same time, work on them consistently.
2. Success Requires a Strong Foundation
The bamboo tree can never grow to 80 feet tall if it did not grow its roots deep into the ground in the first few years. And the same applies to your life.
Spend time to build a strong foundation. This is especially important if your goals are big, and your dreams are beyond your current level.
you must raise your level in both your knowledge and your character before you can achieve a better result in life.
3. Success Is About Your Consistency
Without consistently watering, nurturing, and giving enough sunshine to the bamboo tree, it can never grow.
It will never experience full growth, and you may even kill the bamboo. And this is exactly how most people treat their goals and dreams.
It is a continuous effort. And always remember this, taking small steps every day will add up and give you the results you are looking for.
4. Don’t Forget to Nurture Your Dreams
A lot of people forget to nurture their dreams. They plan to write an article or hit the gym to work out at night, but when the time comes, they either procrastinate or have completely forgotten about what they need to get done.
So always keep your dreams in your head. The moment you lose sight of your goals will be the moment you procrastinate and never do anything about them. Whatever is out of your sight will be out of your mind.
5. Believe Without Doubts
Another important lesson you must learn from the bamboo tree story is that you need to believe in yourself and your dreams without any doubts.
Of course, this does not mean that you should just believe, wait and do nothing about it. You should believe in yourself and your dreams, and at the same time, work on them.
6. Patience and Persistence Will Pay Off
One of the most profound lessons you can learn from the bamboo tree story is none other than this – your patience and persistence will pay off.
As we have talked about it above, success will rarely come to you quickly and you will need to have the patience to go through the hard work in order to produce the result you desire.
This reflects my life story
This bamboo story made me think about my life and my current business. 8 years ago, I was deep in debt, unemployed, single after a second failed marriage and living with my mother in the same house I was brought up in as a child.
Then using the 6 lessons described here I turned my life around completely and I now have the honour to inspire people across the world with Mental Resilience and I am very happily married too.
It wasn’t easy, it took longer than I expected but it is so exciting that it was worth every minute of work I put in to make this happen.
Thoughts for the week
- Do you have any dreams or goals you have failed to achieve?
- Are you about to give up on them?
- Read this article again and try to apply the lessons described into your situation.
- I promise you that the effort you put in is always outweighed by the amazing joy you experience when you achieve your goals.
- Remember the best way to live is always pain first then pleasure.
Well that’s it for this week have a wonderful weekend and keep believing.
Warm regards
John
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