STANDING AMONG GIANTS
Giant redwood trees, also known as coast redwoods or by their scientific name Sequoia sempervirens, are truly awe-inspiring. The tallest trees on Earth, towering 200 to 350 feet high, many have stood for more than a thousand years. It’s humbling to realize that some of these trees were already around before the Battle of Hastings (1066), before the Black Death (1347-1351), and even before the first stones of Notre Dame Cathedral were laid (1163).
Even more jaw-dropping than their majestic beauty is how they remain standing. Despite their size, redwoods have surprisingly shallow roots, about 6 to 12 feet deep. What keeps them upright is not individual strength but collective support. Redwoods grow in groves, and their roots stretch outward—sometimes more than 100 feet from the trunk—intertwining with those of its neighbors. These groves form a subterranean network of shared stability, helping each tree withstand wind, rain, and time itself.
This hidden system offers a powerful metaphor that holds up especially well in the world of business.
After decades of working with business owners, I’ve noticed a consistent pattern among the most successful: they don’t grow in isolation. They build deep, long-term relationships with their colleagues, peers, mentors, and even friendly competitors. Like redwoods, they rely on a strong network to stay grounded and rise higher.
Giant redwoods thrive together. They don’t compete for dominance; they support each other through invisible connections. It’s not just beautiful, it’s necessary. In the same way, small business owners often rely on each other for referrals, advice, and collaboration. The root system might be out of sight, but it’s doing the heavy lifting.
This underscores the vital role that industry associations, trade networks, conventions, and even local supplier relationships all play in supporting a strong business. Small businesses grow stronger when they work together through partnerships, collaboration with local “competitors,” and even by sharing resources.
Perhaps the most powerful part of a redwood’s support system—the one that allows them to grow so tall and age so well—is that it’s underground and unseen. It’s no different in business. Some of the most stabilizing forces in a company are invisible: trust, loyalty, shared values, and a willingness to invest in others without immediate return. These things aren’t flashy, but they’re what keep businesses standing through storms.
People often romanticize the lone genius or the “self-made” entrepreneur, the business world’s version of the Lone Ranger who conquers the world on sheer will. But the evidence tells another story. Success, especially the kind that lasts, is rarely a solo act. It’s built on mutual support and quiet collaboration.
Business owners who want to build a company that isn’t dependent on them to do everything would do well to focus on their roots. To invest in relationships with people who can support them on their journey, while they support others on theirs. That’s the difference between growing alone and standing among giants.
