Hello all,

I shall want to share this amazing story with you all..

The incredible, but true, story of the Chinese bamboo tree.

The process goes like this: You take a little seed, plant it, water it, and fertilize it for a whole year, and nothing happens. The second year you water it and fertilize it, and nothing happens. The third year you water it and fertilize it, and nothing happens. How discouraging this becomes! The fifth year you continue to water and fertilize the seed and then---take note. Sometime during the fifth year, the Chinese bamboo tree sprouts and grows NINETY FEET IN SIX WEEKS!

Life is much akin to the growing process of the Chinese bamboo tree. It is often discouraging. We seemingly do things right, and nothing happens. But for those who do things right and are not discouraged and are persistent things will happen. Finally we begin to receive the rewards."

Nagarajan

Dear Nagrajn,

We use exactly this illustration when we explain the distinction between Important and Urgent in our work.

The bamboo takes the time to do what's important so when the storm comes, it can withstand it and stay standing. If we don't do what's important today, it will come back as an urgency tomorrow.

Thanks for sharing :-)

Negi

True, the story is good & it does at times apply to our life. Could you please explain how you use this in your work? What is the corelation between the growth of the bamboo & the important work? Could you give some examples to explain the connection for me to understand the concept?

Thanks

Thanks Nagaraj for sharing an insightful story.

I am sorry Negi but am not able to co-relate between this story and that of important - urgent work as also mentioned by dadouch.

This story tells more about patience and giving time to nurture something. As for anything which you try for the first time, it will take some time to give results but you should be patient enough and persistent.

If you want to have a real understanding of important v/s urgent work, i would suggest reading of First Things First by Stephen Covey.

Thanks

Nirat