This daily email is called TREE because it’s about thriving as your true self and growing slowly. In this post I’m using trees as a different metaphor.
A tree can maintain the form of a tree long after it has died. Wood is hard and strong.
A tree that has fallen over with its roots ripped out of the ground can sustain leaves, flowers and fruit for a while.
Institutions (Religious organisations, political parties, businesses, schools, teams, charities, governments, civil services, militaries, governing bodies, etc.) are like trees.
Institutions are formed around ideas, technologies, products, processes, strong leaders. All those things have a lifespan that is shorter than the lifespan of an institution.
An institution that does not have the ability to renew itself with new ideas, technologies, leaders, etc. will die like a tree. What I mean is that it will keep on looking like a living institution for quite a while even though its destiny is to be lunch for wood lice.
For any institution that you are part of, it’s good to know
where it is in its lifespan and
whether or not it can renew itself.
If it can’t, get out well before everyone has noticed that it’s dead. By the time people have noticed, it’s way too late.
—Jeff
Sometimes getting involved is not enough to save something, even if you think it can be saved. Putting energy in somewhere that will not be revived or sustained, will in turn, drain the life out of you as well.
Grow slowly
Skyler