It is said that a variety of bamboo plant known as the Chinese Bamboo Tree shows little or no growth on the surface for four years or more. Then suddenly in the fifth year it can grow as much as 25 metres in a period of weeks! This tree provided a powerful metaphor for the growth of successful people.
Over four years, the tree actually is growing, we just can't see it. The tree is developing an elaborate root system which will support it when the time of rapid growth arrives.
Many of us would like to achieve success, but unless we prepare ourselves, the success will be short lived. We often see people who burst into stardom, only to fall quickly back into obscurity, or worse, fall into disgrace. The music industry, for example, is filled with "on hit wonders". Those who do take the time to develop their root system, however, find that they experience tremendous, phenomenal, long term success.
Steph Curry did take the time to prepare for athletic stardom and has become the Most Valuable Player in the National Basketball Association. Much of his development, however, happened below the surface, unnoticed by most. Though he was a standout athlete in high school, Curry did not receive a single scholarship offer to a major American university. He ended up playing for relatively unknown Davidson College. Curry continued to develop his root system through hard work and determination. He matured at Davidson and went on to lead his team to new heights. He has continued to do the same at the professional level, playing for the Golden State Warriors.
We see stories similar to Curry's in all aspects of life. When we live with integrity and gratitude, when we work hard and are kind to others, all the while keeping our eyes focused on the amazing heights that lie before us, we are developing our root system. When our opportunity for greatness arrives, we will be ready and we will thrive. When we are not achieving success at the pace we would like, we can look at the example of this bamboo tree, knowing that when the time is right, we will soar to great heights.
The media loves to tell us "rags to riches" stories, and will often present a person as "an overnight success." This is seldom accurate. If we really take time to examine the lives of these people we will see that they are filled with years of toiling in obscurity. The "overnight success" is in reality the simple reward for persistent effort. Great people know that they are great regardless of what the world says, and when the time comes for the world to notice, they are able to embrace their visible success with grace and character.
Our schools are filled with amazing young people on the road to greatness. Sometimes they are frustrated and discouraged, and are unable to see their success. It is very important for those of us working with them to remember that their root systems are still developing, to encourage them and help them to see the truth of their greatness. This is not always easy, but it is a tremendous joy to spend every day with the thriving bamboo trees of the future.
