Chinese Bamboo Tree is such a great parable that teaches us lessons in faith, patience, persistence, growth, development and human potential.
The Chinese Bamboo Tree Story
In the Far East there is a tree called the Chinese Bamboo Tree. This amazing tree is not like any other tree in that it doesn’t grow in the usual fashion steadily over the years.
Like any tree the growth of the Chinese bamboo tree requires nurturing which means water, fertile soil and sunshine. The farmer waters and fertilizes the soil every day however in the first year there is no visible sign of the tree. The farmers keep nurturing the tree with water and fertilization every day however at the end of the second, third and even 4th year there is no visible sign of the tree above ground level.
However, in the fifth year something amazing happens, the Chinese bamboo tree starts to break ground and grow at an astonishing rate. In just a period of six weeks the tree grows to a height of 80 feet. It’s like you can almost see the tree growing before your eyes.
Did the tree grow 80 feet in six weeks or 5 years? The answer is obvious isn’t it!
For the first 5 years the tree was growing underground and developing a strong root system to support it’s amazing outward growth in the 5th year. If the tree had not developed a strong foundation it could not sustain it’s growth in the 5th year.
The exact same principle is true for people who patiently work towards their dreams and goals, they build strong character and overcome adversity and challenges to grow the strong internal foundation for handling success, while the get-rich-quick merchants and lottery winners usually are unable to sustain unearned sudden wealth.
I believe life also works in the same way as the Chinese Bamboo Tree in that you can work for weeks, months and even years on your goals and dreams with no sign of any progress and then suddenly everything takes off in a big way. Your business becomes more profitable than you could have ever imagined.
All of this requires faith and persistence. The farmer growing the Chinese bamboo tree has faith and keeps watering and fertilizing the soil with certain faith the tree will break through.
You must have the same kind of faith that your business will see rapid growth in the future.
What Lessons Can We Learn From The Chinese Bamboo Tree?
Our biggest challenge is this, can we stay focused and keep the belief in what we are doing when we don’t see any immediate results?
We live in an instant gratification society and we want it NOW! We want instant solutions to every problem and we get frustrated if we have to wait for 2 minutes to get served or even a stop light to change.
Think about this, a lot of networkers get excited when they start their new network marketing business and just can’t wait for the business to blossom.
When there expecations are not met, within days or weeks of the initial planting of their bamboo tree they get discouraged, doubt creeps in and they stop doing the activities and worse still they quit.
Sometimes in their doubt they dig up the seed and plant it somewhere else hoping it will rise quickly in more fertile soil. It is sad to see so many people jump from opportunity to opportunity in pursuit of greener pastures and more often than not these people are greatly disappointed when their Chinese bamboo tree doesn’t grow any faster in the new location.
Yet at other times people will water the ground for some time and wonder if it’s worth the effort, especially when they don’t see any results and see their neighbors having success with their trees. These people start to think, “ Maybe if I had planted a lemon tree, I would have some lemons by now! Why am I growing a Chinese bamboo tree?” Sadly, these people walk away from their dreams and return to their old jobs and old ways.
What these people fail to realize is that pursuing their dream is a sure thing if only they just don’t quit. If they keep watering and fertilizing their dream, (doing the right things for their business!), it will come to fruition, just like the Chinese Bamboo Tree.
Remember it may take weeks, months or even years, but eventually the roots will take hold and your Chinese bamboo tree will grow and when it does the growth will be astonishing.
You have a Chinese Bamboo Tree inside you just waiting to break through, so just keep watering and fertilizing it and you too will be flying high before you know it.
Success comes at a price and is always slower than we would like it to be. The question is how badly do you want success and how long are you willing to work for it? Keep going, it is definitely worth it!
Keeping the faith and being persistence will pay you beyond your wildest dreams. Make your life and adventure!
If you feel inspired by this story please share it with others so they too can get inspired to reach for the stars and beyond!
‘Til next time.
Sincerely,
Moni Arora
