On 13th November 2023, the government’s last-minute declaration of the day as a public holiday to plant trees turned out to be a massive success and fun too. If the accounts on social media are anything to go by, then this was a great idea. Nature has also been gracious that the week is full of rain, meaning there is a greater chance of survival rates for the trees planted with not much needed nurturing.
Unknown to many, there are a lot of similarities between growing trees and growing your own money. I wish to refer to this as the Green Gold envisioning. Here are the lessons and similarities:
- You can never grow a tree if you lack a long-term vision or view of things – average fruit trees or cash crops would take at least 3 years before they start giving their first fruits or crop. Still, they shall peak in production between the 5th and 10th year, and continue to produce, possibly into your old age. If you seek instant gratification, then this is not your cup of tea. As it turns out, this is the exact philosophy for money and long-term sustainable wealth;
- Any type of tree is most delicate and fragile in the nursery and transplanting – most trees die at this stage unless the owner nurtures them diligently and with a lot of care. The survival rate of the trees planted yesterday will depend a lot on how they are protected and nurtured for the next 21 – 90 days. After the Photo ops, the great work of taking care of these trees has just begun. This is exactly how the journey to money and wealth is structured. Most people’s dreams for money die as soon as they are birthed and planted – because the owner fails to understand the hard work of nurturing those seedlings. Think of it – how many of your dreams and great money initiatives have died shortly after you birthed them?
- After a tree is stabilized and well rooted it takes its own life journey and battles – trees chart their own destiny once they have survived their initial stages and only in extreme weather or external factors do they get destroyed. At the Mama Ngina Water Front in Mombasa, there are trees estimated to be over 600 years old and still growing strong. They have endured wars and battles over the coastal city and survived extreme weather seasons. Real money and wealth will defend itself against economic downturns and political regimes. Even after catastrophic shocks, real money finds its balance. The USA and Europe have family-owned businesses that have survived any economic and political shocks that the world has known since the 1400s; they grow from strength to strength each year and season;
- Trees require pruning and maintenance to remain at their best and produce more – removing the unwanted growths, the chaff and spraying pests keep trees growing from strength to strength. Your money goals require the same maintenance and alignment of the goals occasionally and refocusing. This work becomes easier the deeper the roots of your money and wealth get, similar to those of trees;
- Trees give fruits in season for the owner to harvest but not cut the tree – when you want fruit from your tree, you do not cut it, but instead, pick its fruits. Even trees that get harvested when mature, you establish generations of trees to ensure you continue harvesting. This is the exact philosophy of money and wealth. You do not cut the trunks of your investments and money sources but only eat the fruits of your investments. Unfortunately, money is ‘cut off’ or eats our investments at the first encounter of a financial shock – that is classical financial foolishness!
- A bonus point, as you age, trees that you planted in your youth come in handy in giving you precious nutrients, food, shade and a firm fulcrum to lean on as your bones become weak. The money you plant and nurture during your youth shall become a reliable and faithful servant when your feeble body takes a toll on account of the years past. Think about this carefully!
NB: Those of us who follow this page faithfully, will know of the ‘Golden Slaves’ Philosophy that I often talk about. This philosophy has endured from the era of the Babylonian Kingdom and remains as true as it was then. This is the exact philosophy that is symbolized by planting and growing trees.