Over spring break, Heather and I drove down to Natchez just to mess around and see a few landmarks that Greg Iles, a Natchez, MS, author, uses in his books. On the way back, we stopped by the Rocky Springs site on the Natchez Trace and walked a few trails. One trail we hiked was way in the back to the old deserted town of what was Rocky Springs.

As we walked around, I saw this great looking tree. As I looked longer, I wondered how many years of eroding had occurred. I also looked at the roots of the tree. As you can see, they are still digging down into the soil. I looked up and down the tree and noticed how alive it was. Outside of something happening irregularly, I figure the tree will not die anytime soon.

So, I decided to take a picture. I thought it was just cool looking, and then I got to thinking as we hiked… The tree represents the leadership life that many live. How? I’m glad you asked.

How many leaders do you know that are still surviving after someone else tried to erode the foundation under them? Those leaders, who had strong roots, have stretched their roots into the soil beneath them and chosen to continue thriving. It seems that, as with eroding, those others just simply wear away at your foundation. Little by little, over time, their short-sightedness toward others’ leadership has weathered away many good people.

Actually, we see it in all aspects of society. There are so many “out there” who do everything they can to erode your foundation for what you stand for from beneath you. They will challenge your beliefs, your ethics, your values, your… And when it happens, those same roots must stay strong and continue to dig, sometimes way down, to find new soil, grab hold, and stand.

I have no idea how old that tree is, but I know it has stood the test of time thus far. It has taken everything thrown at it, even the erosion to take the foundation from under. Yet, it still stands. A favorite quote of mine is, “Make sure your feet are planted in the right place; you never know when you will have to stand firm.”

Ultimately, that’s what real leaders have to do, stand firm. Let your roots stay established and continue to grow. I’m not sure when I will return to the Rocky Springs site again, but if I do, I think I’ll stop to see how the old tree is doing…

Let’s go fight the good fight of leadership. Someone has to…

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2023 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… Twitter @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.