All Spring, I've been watching the trees in my backyard flourish. All of them have grown into lush masterpieces of nature and vivid beauty. All have matured and revealed precious blossoms to my family and I. All have provided us with shade, joy and protection. All but one.
This one tree stands apart. While the others were growing quickly a few months ago, this one had no leaves at all. It looked thin and frail. I wasn't even sure if it had made it through the Winter. I left it for dead. But then something very spectacular happened.
From nowhere, it started to yield stunningly beautiful little flowers on its almost instantly firm branches. It grew higher than every other tree around it. And it offered us more cover than its counterparts. This tree is now the best tree. The Lead Tree in my backyard.
Here's the leadership lesson: strong roots eventually yield great success.
I have a suspicion that while the naked eye suggested that the tree wasn't growing, in truth, it definitely was. But the expansion was below ground rather than above ground. And so I dismissed it.
While the other trees were reaching for the sky, this special tree was quietly working on its foundation, ensuring its roots were strong and its base was secure. And once done, it outperformed every tree around it.
Business and life has taught me so many lessons. And so has nature. And one of the best is that leadership takes time. You might think that other people and other organizations are so far ahead of you that you'll never catch up. But please be patient. Tend to your roots. Do exceptionally great work. Build deep relationships. Invent and innovate daily. And Lead Without a Title.
Nature is always fair. And eventually, like the special tree in my backyard, you will win.
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