Some of you who know me also know that I am obsessed with err, enjoy cultivating Bonsai trees. Some people think that Bonsai is either a particular species of little tree, or that the pot stunts the tree’s growth. Neither is true.
A Bonsai is small because it is pruned, meticulously and consistently by its grower.
The result is (or is at least supposed to be) a tree that looks ancient and weathered even though it may not be as old as it appears. The picture above shows the theoretical progression of a tree in a pot (Bonsai means “tree in a pot” in Japanese). You see how it works? Grow the trunk out; cut it off; grow out the next branch, cut it off; etc, etc, etc…
I’ve had the chance to build numerous teams over my life. Every time, I thought, “This is the pinnacle; this is as good as it gets! I’m really in my strike zone.” Then comes a pruning. Sometimes it is abrupt and painful. Years ago, a broken engagement providentially redirected my life into a totally new direction. Sometimes it’s more gradual, like our move from Africa to Europe — we knew it was coming, but we had to make that break (pruning) at a given stage of our life.
Like that bonsai, a pruning can strengthen the root base, even though the top of the tree has to come off. And pruning is inevitable in all of our lives. It can even be like the Cholla: a pruning can lead to reproduction. We have seen that kind of pruning too. When a pruning comes, try not to flinch. It may be painful (probably will be…), but if pruning doesn’t kill you, it will probably lead to growth and to new opportunities.
Here’s a picture of one of my Bonsai trees for fun:
