There’s a story about a man who plants a bamboo tree. For five years, he waters and fertilizes the ground daily, but nothing happens—no sign of growth. Onlookers think he’s crazy, wondering why he’s putting in all this effort when there are no visible results. But the man knows something they don’t: beneath the surface, the bamboo tree is establishing strong roots. In the fifth year, something remarkable happens—within five weeks, that bamboo tree grows 90 feet tall. What seemed like nothing for years suddenly becomes an enormous success.
But here’s the key question: did the growth happen in those five weeks, or did it actually happen in the five years of preparation? Was all that time watering and fertilizing wasted, or was it what made the explosive growth possible? The truth is, the five years of consistent effort are what allowed that bamboo to thrive. The groundwork, the daily commitment, and the belief in the process were what made the rapid growth possible when the time was right.
As finance managers, we are much like the man tending to the bamboo tree. The time we spend behind the scenes—practicing role-playing, building product knowledge, refining our processes, and understanding our customers—lays the foundation for success. It’s not just about showing up for the deal; it’s about all the steps we take in preparation. Every training session, every lesson on overcoming objections, every scenario we rehearse adds another tool to our virtual toolbox. The product knowledge we build, the process mastery we gain, and the confidence we develop from role-playing all contribute to making us not just good, but great at our jobs.
So when you’re investing hours in preparation, it’s much like watering the bamboo. It may seem like nothing is happening, but every effort is contributing to your growth. When the time comes for your presentation, all of those hours of learning and refining will come together in ways that allow you to excel. Keep investing in yourself and your growth will be unstoppable. Just like the bamboo tree, your success will be the result of all the time and effort you’ve poured into your craft. When the moment comes, you’ll rise quickly because of the strong roots you’ve built through your dedication.
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