Roots down, shoots up. So get entrenched in the technology first and then shoot for sales. This is a startup mantra few understand. And those that do, need to know little else
Plants have something fascinating called geotropism (also known as gravitropism) — the ability to sense gravity and grow accordingly. That is the sixth sense an entrepreneur needs to develop.
Roots grow downward, anchoring the plant and searching for water and nutrients.
Shoots grow upward, reaching for light and energy.
Even if a seed is placed sideways, the plant quietly reorganizes itself. The root bends down. The shoot bends up. No confusion. No hesitation.
Scientists discovered that this happens because of plant hormones called auxins, which redistribute within the plant depending on gravity. This subtle shift guides growth in the right direction.
Plants don’t have a brain. They don’t have strategy decks, consultants, or quarterly reviews. Yet they still find their true direction.
In business and leadership, we often talk about “finding our north star.”
Nature solved that problem millions of years ago.
When the fundamentals are right — the system naturally grows in the right direction.
Roots down.
Shoots up.
Sometimes innovation is not about inventing something new. It is about following a process. And waiting for results to appear.
