Do you know who dendrochronologists are? They are scientists who study tree rings and determine the age of a tree based on the width and arrangement of those rings. In many ways, they read a natural chronicle - a story that every tree records throughout decades and centuries of life.
Because I love forests and spend a lot of time in them, it always saddens me when I see a cut tree. Especially a large stump whose cross-section quietly reveals how strong and magnificent that tree once was. The rings on a stump do not only reveal the age of the tree, but also the kind of years it endured. Good years leave behind wider and brighter rings, while difficult years create narrow and darker marks. Wider rings usually mean more water, warmth, and favorable conditions for growth, while narrow rings often tell stories of drought, cold, struggle, and stress.
The incredible endurance of trees can be seen in some of the oldest living trees on our planet. One of them is Old Tjikko in Sweden, estimated to be around 9,500 years old. According to scientists, it began growing shortly after the end of the Ice Age. It was discovered in 2004 by geologist Leif Kullman, who named it after his late dog. Then there is Gran Abuelo - “Great Grandfather” - a massive cypress tree located in Chile’s Alerce Costero National Park. More than four meters wide and nearly 60 meters tall, it is believed to be around 5,484 years old. And finally, perhaps the most famous of them all: Methuselah tree, an ancient bristlecone pine tree in the White Mountains of eastern California, estimated to be around 4,700 years old. Its exact location remains secret in order to protect it from harm.
But perhaps this story relates most to ourselves. We, too, go through good and difficult years. Just as a tree remains standing during droughts, patiently waiting for better seasons, we sometimes simply try to survive certain periods of life. Sometimes patience itself is the greatest form of strength. That does not mean we are less successful. It simply means we are adapting to circumstances and trying to make the best of what we currently have.
The same is true for companies. Not every year is marked by steady revenue growth, profit, and stability. Some years are difficult, but those are often the years that build resilience and longevity. We often forget that foundations are the most important part of anything we build. When planting a tree and hoping for it to become strong, we must remember that in its early years it focuses on building roots before growing its crown. If the foundations are unstable and we build castles made of cards wrapped in good marketing and illusions of success, sooner or later everything collapses more easily. Because what was never truly built cannot withstand the first serious storms.
And so we return to ourselves. Sometimes growth is not visible from the outside. Yet inner growth is often the most important kind. Whenever we begin something new in life - learning a language, an instrument, or a dance, it takes time. Like a tree, we must first develop roots before we can grow a crown. The applause we eventually receive is never just for a few minutes of final performance. It is applause for all the years of effort, for all the invisible attempts, and for all the difficult moments when we wanted to give up but chose to continue.
So the next time you see a large tree with a magnificent crown, remember that its path was never linear. It was shaped by winds, droughts, fractures, and new beginnings.
My rings have recorded both droughts and storms. But they have built roots that no one can move anymore. My crown is still coming. And it will be exactly the one I write for myself. Under my real name.
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