The ManicaPost
“Nature, by example, shows us anything worthwhile comes over time. Anything worthwhile grows methodically, building on a strong foundation. Develop a willingness to carry on despite roadblocks.” (Jaren L. Davis).
| Nature provides us with profound lessons if we are willing to be its students. One of the fundamental lessons is that; things do not just happen. |
This principle in modern times has unfortunately been committed to the dustbins of antiquity, yet the greatest of all frustrations in life ensue from its violation. We live in times whereby everything is fast; fast-foods, fast-cash, fast- cars, fast-relationships/marriages, fast-prayers, and some people even believe and look for fast miracles (microwave miracles).
The fast-life deprives us of many things which are essential to the development of our character; patience. The fast life does not teach us process. It does not give us exposure to how things are done, but what we only know is to have them. Without an understanding of process, it is difficult to have an appreciation of value. We need to master the principle of patience if we are going to experience a life of greatness.
We all want breakthroughs in the various areas of our lives, sometimes we might even wish that it comes faster than the speed of light. However, this does not always happen. You might have started on a project, and you are not seeing any results despite the fact that you have been putting all the effort and resources in it.
There might not any sign of hope at all, and you might be getting drowsy by the day, and even thinking of giving up on the vision. Sometimes the realities of the stomach will even prompt you to think of other alternatives which can give you results faster. If you are such a person, well you are the right person for this article.
The Chinese Bamboo
There can be no better example to demonstrate the principle of patience than that of the Chinese bamboo. We might have heard or read about the Chinese bamboo, if not I will take you through this special type of vegetation. The Chinese bamboo is very flexible, lightweight and is even believed to be stronger than steel and many hardwoods.
It is used for constructions purposes, flooring, fencing, house walls, and has also been used for skateboards, bicycles and bike helmets because of its light weight and durability. The Chinese Bamboo has been commended for being eco-friendly because of its renewable nature. Amazing uses for the Chinese Bamboo indeed, but there is an impacting story which accompanies it.
The Chinese Bamboo starts off as a tiny seed. This seed is committed to the ground and watered, and fertilised daily. The Chinese Bamboo does not grow the following week or months or show any sign of growth. If you intend to grow the Chinese Bamboo tree you need to be aware of the following procedures;
The first year; you water and fertilise the seed daily…Nothing happens.
The second year; you water and fertilise the seed daily…Nothing happens.
The third year; you water and fertilise the seed daily…Nothing happens.
The fourth year; you water and fertilise the seed daily…Nothing happens.
The story, however, changes in the fifth year you water and fertilizer and seed daily, that is when you can see physical results of the growth on the outside. The amazing thing is that in the fifth year the Chinese bamboo grows to 90 feet (27.432m) tall in just 6 weeks!
Things do not just
happen
Well the question for many people is: Does the Bamboo grow in six weeks or in five years? The answer to this is obvious; five years, and not six weeks. During the five years, watering and fertilizing has to be done daily, failure of which the plant will die. You might have a dream like a bamboo tree, you might not see what is happening in the ground, but there is certainly happening.
You need to continue watering, and feeding your dream. Protect that dream of yours; add life to it daily by watering it, and feeding it. One day, the plant will shoot to the surface; it will grow at a phenomenal rate and even amaze those people who used to scorn at you.
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross puts across this life principle of process in a wider way; “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”
Something is happening beyond the eye
We are so accustomed to seeing progress with the physical eyes. This is what the Chinese Bamboo has deprived us of for four years. It does not allow you to see what is happening, and even possibly whether it is alive. The fact that nothing is happening within the reach of the eyes does not mean there is nothing happening. For the four years, something is happening in the ground.
For the four years, the Chinese Bamboo builds a strong network of roots which allows it to stand firm during the six weeks when it will be growing at a faster pace. You might not enjoy the wait, but your foundation is being structured. If you are going to be great in life, you need to have a firm foundation. This is synonymous with any tall building; its foundation has to be deep and strong in order to sustain its height.
The reason why most businesses are not surviving or will not go for long is because there is no strong foundation. Some people rise through bribes and corruption, but that is a weak foundation. More often than not, the pace at which we get certain things, determines the pace at which we lose them.
Why can’t you have the foundation that nurtures ethics, integrity, good corporate governance, sound knowledge of business management and development? It might be long before you can rise, but when the time and opportunity comes, you will grow at a phenomenal rate like the Chinese Bamboo.
Take the risk
Life rewards those who are prepared to move out of the common into the uncommon. There is every possibility that the bamboo might be dead in the ground, but there is equal possibility that the seed might still be alive. The size of risk you are prepared to take, determines the size of reward you will get. The farmer risks for four years, watering, and fertilizing the ground that is quiet, but in the fifth year, the reward comes. I am asking you to take risks in the direction of your purpose. It might not work, but there is also room that it might work. Water that dream of yours, groom your employees, invest in them, empower the members of your organisation, they might just turn out to be a great blessing to your corporate. Invest in those trainings; you do not know the value that they will add to your members of staff. Take that risk! I do not know the area that you want to go, but you need to step out of the familiar into the unfamiliar.
Maintain the focus
It is very easy to be distracted by people who do not understand where you are coming from and where you are going. An ordinary person, who sees a vast plain being fertilized and watered, might see a sheer waste of energy, time and resources. There are certain people who do not understand why you are doing all that you are doing now.
They do not understand why you are making those savings, why you are taking your time to invest in your knowledge, studying that entrepreneurial course, why you are taking time reading those inspirational books. Do not open your mind to discouragement; do not allow the circumstances of today to distract you from what you can get in the near future. Maintain the focus, know what you want and consistently follow it.
Delay instant
gratification
We all want to celebrate, live a good life, and for some people to even demonstrate to their contemporaries that they have crossed the rubicon. Great people delay instant gratification. They are prepared to endure the pain of now for tomorrow’s gain. They commit to enduring the pain of discipline today, than to face the pain of regret tomorrow.
The Bamboo farmer is very aware that there are many plants that do not take years to grow, he can plant those and reap results in the instant future, but he is prepared to sow an uncommon seed for an uncommon reward. The discipline of five years yields a forest that can leave a greater legacy for generations to come. The secret; delayed gratification.
You might need to think about investing more into that vision, instead of buying fancy things whose use is limited, you might have to commit the money into capital and expand your operations, even reward your employees to enhance production. Until we meet next time, stay in the grace and in greatness!
Join me on Star FM every first Wednesday of the month (09:30am-10:00am) for some moments of inspiration on the Breeze with Tariro and Iyati.
Arthur Marara is an Attorney, Author and Speaker. He is also the author of the Personal Development Toolkit, Keys to Financial Freedom, The Power Within, and Keys to Effective Time Management. Send your feedback to [email protected] or Like his page on Facebook, or Whatsapp: +263 718 867 255
