(Principles are basic truths that, when applied, cause success to come to you easier and quicker.)

 

Having stewardship of a timber farm has taught me a few lessons. An important one is the benefit of effective pruning. There are many types of pruning and many reasons for it.

Some kinds of trees have major limbs die even though the rest of the tree is healthy. Pruning those limbs before they drop on your house/car/head is a good idea. (How do you suppose I learned that lesson?)

A topiary is certainly one type of pruning, but that’s forcing a plant into an unnatural shape. That there are unintended consequences of trying to force outcomes is another powerful lesson.

I’ve also learned that some people will criticize the cutting of any growing thing. Even when data shows the beneficial effects of doing so. The lesson here is that it’s sometimes good to be unaffected by the opinions of others.

Thinning stunted, misshapen, and overcrowded trees opens the space for healthy growth for the rest. The remaining trees have more sunlight, water, and nutrients and thus grow more robustly. Cut some to grow more is a useful lesson.

Trees, of course, are a metaphor. Pruning is also effective for expenses, activities, relationships, consumption, and goals.

 

Coaching Point: What pruning would benefit you the most right now?

 

Copyright 2015 Steve Straus. All rights reserved.