Want Success? Ask the Chinese Bamboo Tree
By: Omoyele Damilola
Tags: Motivational Quotes, Inspirational Stories, Inspiration, Chinese Bamboo Tree, Motivational

This story will change your life!

The Chinese bamboo tree is one of the phenomenal wonders of nature. This tree, when planted as a tiny seed, spends a whopping five years in the ground before breaking through the surface of the earth.

What's more, the Chinese bamboo tree seed needs a lot of nurturing during those five years it spends underground. The planted seed must be fertilized, watered, and must receive sunlight all through its required five years of limbo in the soil. Absolutely incredulous, right?

Now, here’s what even more shocking. After five years of seeming impotence, the Chinese bamboo tree eventually germinates and grows to an astonishing 90 feet in six weeks! That’s about 11 stories high and about 30 strides! What an incredible, incredible creation!

Priceless Lessons to Take Away from This Story

The Fact That You Do Not See Immediate Results Does Not Mean the Plan—Your Dream Isn’t Working

The Chinese bamboo tree teaches us patience. It teaches us that some things take time, especially things meant to bring immense returns and great satisfaction in life, like a wonderful career and a loving relationship.

It teaches us that although we might not get immediate results while pursuing our goals, we must believe that if we stick to the fundamental course of action, eventually our efforts would pay off.

What You Become in The Process Is Far More Important Than the Outcome

Pause for a minute and think. Did the bamboo tree develop the ability to grow 90 feet in the first six weeks of germination or, did it develop that ability—its root— in the five years it spent underground?

You see, all the struggles, hardship, pain, commitment, rejection, and difficulties we face while pursuing our dreams are necessary to shape us and prepare us for the greatness that is to come.

Just like gold needs to be melted to be refined and valuable, so must we accept adversity and challenges to make us grow and become valuable.

You must understand that what we become in the process is much more important than the outcome.

The mental fortitude, the discipline, the courage, the healthy thought process, the quality relationships we acquire and enjoy when we achieve success are all by-products of success.

In essence, if you were to, cheat the budding process, you'd become successful alright, but you'd be a sad and lonely wealthy person with a restless mind and a disorganized life.

A person without enough discipline to control wealth and without character to keep the company of quality people and enjoy the fulfillment of great relationships.

You Must Defend Your Dream

I want you to imagine the farmer who plants a Chinese bamboo tree, watering and fertilizing the ground for a year without any inkling of progress.

Imagine the neighbors, other farmers, asking questions, “Are you sure you know what you’re doing, you’ve been at it for over a year and still have nothing to show for it?”

Some people may make more heart-wrenching and derisive remarks, "That thing will never work, stop fooling yourself and go do something else, you idiot!"

Many times these sought of things happen. Negative feedback from friends, family, and even so-called experts.

But, you must understand that once the universe places a dream in your heart, it is your responsibility to nurture and protect that dream.

It is you who is given the dream to implement. it is you who sees it, others don’t see it. So what others think about your dream is none of your business, they are entitled to their opinions as you're entitled to yours.

Never, ever let their destructive comments stop you. Other people’s opinion of you doesn’t have to be your reality.

Forge on. Keep going. The fact that you’re building a bridge to cross a river on your path to greatness may look like you’re not moving, yet building that bridge is a major step in getting to your destination of greatness.

Your dream is valid. Protect your dream and in time it would blossom just like the Chinese bamboo tree.

Have you experienced trying moments when you did something others thought was completely stupid, only for it to become successful?

I’d like to hear your story. Share them with me in the comment section.