This summer, I ticked an item off of my bucket list. I finally visited Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite National Parks with my family!

I have always wanted to see the Giant Sequoias that grow only in a narrow 60-mile band of mixed conifer forest on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California. And after months of planning a 45-day RV Trip with my entire family, we finally stood at the foot of one of these natural wonders on the 13th of June 2023. (Yayyyy! 🎉)

Throughout our visit to the parks, my kids heard me say, “Awesome!” more times than they could count and likely caught me tearing up in wonder standing in the presence of these ancient sentinels.  Check out the photos here.

I learned an amazing thing that stuck with me from this trip, and it’s the sequoia trees’ incredible relationship with something we consider a force of destruction….

🔥 FIRE 🔥

This got me evaluating the way we respond to ‘fire outbreaks’ in our personal and professional lives.

Hear me out…

If you are a founder like me, then you experience the day-to-day difficulties of just keeping your doors open. There are bills to pay, capital to raise, team members to lead, customers to serve, and the community to engage. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed and want to give up. I get it, believe me. I feel this daily challenge, too.

You see, as humans, we’re not built to run towards danger or embrace pressure. On the contrary, we’re built to avoid it and everything that looks like a stressor. In fact, studies show that our brains are hard-wired to focus on the negative and to see threats everywhere. This is called the negativity bias, and it’s a survival mechanism that helped our ancestors stay alive in the wild. But in business, we are faced with constant stressors that we have to run towards. So how do we handle this? Read on to find out! 👇

Back to the giant sequoia tree…

Giant sequoias can live for thousands of years and grow over 300 feet tall. One of their most iconic traits is their ability to thrive on exposure to fire. They are the most resilient trees in the world. (Source)

In the early 1900s, people did not quite understand the special relationship that sequoia trees had with fire and forest fires were suppressed to protect forests. Giant sequoia reproduction experienced a massive decline. This was largely because fires are essential for the growth and survival of giant sequoia trees. The heat from the fire opens the cones of the trees, releasing their seeds. The seeds then need bare ground, unpopulated by shrubs and other vegetation, to germinate. The fire clears away underbrush, allowing the sequoia trees to get more sunlight and thrive.

Are you suppressing the fires that are needed for your growth?

Here are 4 lessons you can learn from the giant sequoia trees

1. Anti-Fragility: The giant sequoia trees have developed thick barks to protect them from the heat. Like them, you need to use stressors as opportunities to strengthen your business. 
2. Innovation: Fire acts as a catalyst for opening the hard cones of the sequoia tree in order for new seeds to be released. When faced with a difficult problem, learn to brainstorm innovative new ways to solve them. Be open to new ideas and approaches, even if they seem unconventional. (I recommend employing the help of your team on this. Imagine yourself as the strong stem of the sequoia tree, and other members of your team as roots, providing natural support, stability, and essential nutrients to help you thrive).
3. Make Room: New ideas need space to germinate, and sometimes this means “burning” away the old and outdated in order to make room for the new. Fire clears out the underbrush and other competing shrubs surrounding the sequoia tree to give developing seeds a better chance of growing and thriving. Be willing to adapt and change as required, and to let go of the old in order to embrace the new.
4. High Levels of Tannins: Sequoia trees also have high tannin content, a natural compound that helps to repel insects and resist rotting. In a similar way, you can develop a stronger inner “tannin” by adopting a positive attitude, cultivating healthy relationships, and practicing self-care. This will position you to better weather the challenges of running a business.

Conclusion

The giant sequoia trees are a marvel of nature, and a testament to the power of resilience. They are a reminder that even the most destructive forces can be opportunities for growth. Business owners who are innovative, adaptive, resilient, and practice self-care will be the ones to navigate the challenging landscape of running a business and thrive in the long run.

I hope this article has been helpful. If you would like to learn more about the giant sequoia trees, I recommend reading this article by the National Park Service, California.

I have curated a slide show of these magnificent trees and beautiful moments from our trip for you.

Have you had an experience where a certain challenge strengthened you or eventually turned into a business opportunity? I would love to hear all about it in the comments!

Until next time,

Nettie Owens

Founder & CEO, The Sappari Group