The Story of the Chinese Bamboo Tree
The Chinese Bamboo Tree
The story of the Chinese bamboo tree is a classic story that encapsulates the lessons of patience, growth, development, and human potential.
It is one of my favorites, and it goes as follows:
There was once a man who felt discouraged…
He took stock of the resolutions he made last year and nothing in his life had changed.
He was the same person with the same problems. He began to lose hope.
So he went to speak with his mentor.
His mentor asked, “Do you know how long it takes for the giant bamboo to grow as tall as a building?
During the first year, the tiny plant is watered and fertilized… and nothing happens.
It is watered and fertilized for another whole year…
And another…
And another…
And still, nothing happens.
Then, on the fifth year… it shoots up to the sky.
In six weeks the bamboo grows 90 feet.
So how long does it take for it to grow so high?”
“Six weeks,” the man replied.
“That’s your mistake,” said the mentor, “it takes five years.”
“If the farmer stopped watering the plant at any point during those five years… it would have died.
What was happening during all those years… Underneath the ground, an enormous network of roots was developing to support the bamboo’s sudden growth.
Growth takes patience and perseverance. Every drop of water makes a difference.”
Every step you take makes an impact.
You may not see the change right away, but growth is happening.
The story is a metaphor for the time it takes for someone to develop into the ultimate version of themselves, someone deserving of their goal. Even if the bamboo tree had grown 90 feet in one year, it would not have had the foundation to support that growth, and it would have ultimately crashed to the ground.
Many people see growth, yet because they do not understand the time and effort that went into achieving it, they call someone who has reached a high level of success an “overnight success.” That term could not be further from the truth.
Just like the bamboo tree, time, energy, effort, and intention must go into reaching one’s ultimate potential.
Be like the duck floating seamlessly, seemingly effortlessly, on the lake - only you will know how hard you are kicking underneath the water.
Strive to be a 10-year overnight success. The longer the horizon, the larger the goal can be.