Sometimes doom scrolling does deliver some pearls of wisdom. I was up late one night after a full-day workshop called “Voice of Leaders”. Excited that the day had gone well, but unable to sleep, maybe needing to wind down, and a reel by Myron Golden captured my attention.
Interesting, I had spent my day helping leaders understand why and how to improve their communication skills so that they could command attention. My mantra on messaging, “easy to remember, easy to repeat,” is exactly what caught my attention when Myron was talking.
He said a lot, but this line, “The root system builds the fruit system,” is what stayed with me. Maybe it’s because I love trees (and fruit 😊), and maybe because it painted a visual story for me that made sense.
He then explained how these two systems operate under opposite conditions and move in opposite directions to produce a unified whole. The root system is “gravitropic,” and the fruit system is “phototropic”.
Once the seed is planted, the roots must first start to grow. They face Resistance, as they at heading down, and must push through the soil. They (the roots) do their work in difficult conditions, surrounded by damp and dirt. In addition to working in the dark, they must find water and nutrients, and it is the underground, un-noticed work which allows for the green shoots to eventually sprout and grow upwards towards the light. With time and continued efforts, the tree grows and bear fruit.
This is the visible phase ‘phototropic’ phase, where your success is shining and you have the stage, you are growing in the light. It’s the time when others celebrate you and go… “wow, what wonderful fruit it (you) produces”. People only see what’s visible and what tastes good to them, and they say, “I want to be like that”.
What they don’t see is all the hard work over the years that went behind that moment, which bore fruit. That messy root system, which happens below the surface, is hidden from the world’s view. The magazine cover and the podcast feature only showcase the beautiful, tasty fruit. But it’s the root system that has delivered the fruit.
I love the phrase “where attention goes, energy flows”. A reminder to myself to focus my attention on my root system. That way, as I grow, others’ attention will flow towards the fruits of my effort.
I often say let your light shine. To do that, there is no escaping some natural laws, and the metaphor of a tree shines a light in this simple truth. As below. So above.
Do the hard work in the dark where no one is watching. Establish a strong foundation. Be willing to grapple with the dirt and find your way through. Then you get to grow into the light, and the world will enjoy your beauty, your shelter, your shade and your fruit.
And oh yes. Don’t get ahead of yourself. If you grow too big, too fast, and the root system does not keep pace, even a small storm can uproot you. So, pace yourself. Do the work, keep growing (learning and unlearning), and strengthen the root system to keep pace with the fruit system. Like everything else in life, balance seems to be the answer.
My greatness will come from my “Grootness”. I must stay rooted and real. In fact, the most profound ‘Grootism’ came in Guardians of the Galaxy, when Groot changed the line from “I am Groot” to “We are Groot”. A reminder that there is a bigger world than me. Don’t miss the forest for the trees.
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