A Lesson From a Tree

I recently had one of those days that we all hate. One of those days where everything that can go wrong does!

I was late to work. All day the boss was less than pleasant. Spent a bunch of money on a battery for my wife's car...only to have the car break down two blocks from our house. Had to skip dinner to go to church. Worked on the car after church...as the snow started falling (still with no food in my belly!).

We all have those days. It is somewhat comforting to me to know that even people like Bill Gates and Donald Trump have days where everything seems to fall apart.

The significant thing that I want to mention here is this: How do you deal with adversity?

As leaders we all face hard times. People quit, the new idea flops, we can't get any volunteer help on weekends, etc. Chalk it all up to adversity.

As I was standing there next to my wife's newly broken down car (as the fresh snow began to fall all around me) I just so happened to glance across the street where I gained inspiration. I saw one of the largest "Christmas" trees that I have ever seen in my life. This thing was enormous. It shot up toward the heavens with great girth and it's limbs were broad and strong. There were more layers to this tree than in any tree that I have ever seen in my life.

And here it was teaching me about leadership.

I want to be that tree. I want my life to stretch toward heaven. I want my impact to be broad like the limbs of that tree. I want to show strength to all who are sensitive to notice. And here is the catch: in order for that tree to be impressive it had to persevere through many storms.

I would never have thought about perseverance that night had the tree been blown over by the first wind that passed through town. And the same is true of our leadership. We will never make a significant impact until we have the currency of perseverance.

Let me say that again...

We will never make a significant impact until we have the currency of perseverance.

Our roots must go deep and we must grow stronger as we go higher. Realize that you have been planted on this earth and the goal of life is to leave something meaningful behind.

Let your roots grow deep EXACTLY where you have been planted. Stand tall through whatever adversity you are facing now or in the future. Set your gaze toward heaven and spread your influence EXACTLY where you are planted. Stick it out. It ain't as bad as you think it is right now and it ain't as good as you think it is on the other side of the fence.

Your life and your leadership is what you make of it.

Stick it out believing that you are growing into the strongest tree that you can be. Earn the currency of perseverance by setting your roots deep. You can make it!