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With excerpts from www.americanbamboo.org
 The
bamboo is a meaningful and vibrant metaphor for the mystery and
mastery of leadership. When initially planted, it usually doesn't
(seem to) do much for the first few growing seasons. The first
two years it puts out roots in its new location and usually by
the third year it starts putting out larger culms. (stems). The
fastest growing woody plant on this planet, it grows one third
faster than the fastest growing tree. Some species can grow up
to 1 meter per day. One can almost "watch it grow".
Bamboo feels so good. Grasp a culm (stem) and energy is defined.
A strong culm advances from underground to sky, often many tens
of feet, many meters, in a matter of weeks. All of it is there
from the moment it breaks ground. Every thrusting inch, foot or
meter, from node to node, every future leaf is compactly folded
in place ready and willing to come out.
Visited daily, growth is measured first against a human body
and that dwarfed, then against the taller and then tallest of
other natural forms.
Bamboo is vitality and paradox wrapped into what appears to be
a plant. A plant of many personalities and still more personas.
It is possibility and potential. It is warp and woof of a carefully
interwoven nature.
Bamboo is a mystical plant as a symbol of strength, flexibility,
tenacity, endurance and compromise. Throughout Asia, bamboo has
for centuries been integral to religions ceremonies, art, music
and daily life. It is the paper, the brush and the inspiration
of poems and paintings. Among the earliest historical records,
2nd century B.C. were written on green bamboo strips strung together
in a bundle with silk thread. Instruments made of bamboo create
unique resonance.
For ancient Chinese for whom Dao, Buddha and Confucius formed
boundaries of actuality, a measured, meaningful life was defined
and created in terms of, in relationship with, bamboo.
The Chinese said, believed and knew that "it", meaning
quality of life, began with bamboo and ended with bamboo. Study
of meaning in life began with familiarity and ended with mastery.
To study bamboo, to master its many modes, its many utilities,
its aesthetic dimensions defined a lifetime well lived. Bamboo
is a natural. Like grass it grows rapidly and propagates itself
if left alone. Like wood it is strong, grows many places and has
many, many uses. Given its way, bamboo will hold hillsides in
place against raging waters unleashed from above. Given its way,
growing profusely among peoples judged materially poorest on the
planet, without gigantic industries cutting, gathering, processing,
transporting it; bamboo is here, waiting to serve. It is here
to shelter, to fashion tools, to weave baskets, to help water
obey, to provide beauty and sounds.
Wind moving through bamboo forests or thickets makes symphony
orchestras seem impotent. Wind moving little pieces of bamboo
to strike against each other gives joy and peace to those who
hear it.
How are all these elements similar to the growth, fellowship
and practice of leadership? Each in our own way, each in our own
place and time, we can learn to live like bamboo, to invest in
a bamboo - like future, making our personal commitments to a wonderful
gift of nature, a gift of patience as our gifts take root. We
can then to grow and give exponentially when we have achieved
our personal mastery and co-created a strong harmonious community
of fellow leaders.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
 What
makes Legacy Leadership® such
an outstanding program was the
excellent level of facilitation skills
that Brenda Chaddock brought into the room.
It was the
most energizing program
I have experienced to date.
A very rich experience.
~ Cheryl H.
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