3 Insights for Young Male Entrepreneurs to Develop Patience and Delay Gratification by…

I remember a few years ago, as a young entrepreneur, when I just started with my nanotech company, I took one of those personality tests, the MBTI, as part of a business coaching exercise.

And I will never forget the first sentence of my results. It started: “Roman needs to relax and take a deep breath.” This was back in 2009, and ever since I have been doing some form of meditation practice in an effort to become more patient, emotionally detached, and stoic.

I think a lot of young male entrepreneurs are like that, always in the driver’s seat, full throttle ahead.

No time to pause.

This guarantees many failures quickly and a fast learning curve, which is great, but, and this is a big “but,” it does take a toll and has a huge downside as well.

It will eventually drain you and leave you emotionally burned out if not checked.

What has helped me the most to counteract this is finding balance in nature through contemplation and integrating my creative passion for photography into my daily meditations.

There are tons of subjects out there, and one of the subjects that has drawn my attention the most is single trees. Here are a few contemplations for you to develop patience you will inevitably need on your way to success

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Contemplation 1: The Patience Inherent in Trees

Consider the Great Basin bristlecone pine, Methuselah, standing tall in California’s White Mountains for at least 4,850 years.

Let that sink in—a living being that has witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations, patiently awaiting each new season to flourish once more. Contemplate the countless winters and the myriad lives that have come and gone during its enduring presence. In the vastness of nature, the expanse of space, or the solitary stature of a single tree, everything else falls into perspective.

Be like that tree, steadfastly weathering one winter after another, embodying the patience and fortitude that define its ancient existence.

Realization 2: Resilience in Adverse Conditions

The Tree of Resilience?—?Roman L Binder

Some trees endure harsh conditions, thriving against all odds

Henry David Thoreau, captivated by trees, found in them an embodiment of patience and endurance. Their beauty, wildness, and unwavering presence in nature served as parables of resilience and spiritual guidance.

“The more slowly trees grow at first, the sounder they are at the core, and I think the same is true of human beings.”?—?Henry David Thoreau

We get inspired by nature to build airplanes, cell phones, and just about anything in modern life.

Just as trees weather extreme climates and adversities, young men too can draw inspiration from their ability to persist and flourish in the face of challenges.

Life isn’t fair, and we don’t get to choose where we start from, but we can adapt and flourish nonetheless, much like that tree, even in the harshest of conditions.

The Wanaka Tree?—?by Roman L Binder

Contemplations 3: Control Your Impulses and Delay Gratification

Think of a fruit tree. When it is first planted, it is just a tiny sapling. It doesn’t produce any fruit right away.

The gardener needs to have patience and wait for it to grow. He waters it, cares for it, and protects it as it slowly grows taller and its branches spread. After a few years, it finally starts producing flowers, and then tiny, unripe fruit appears. The gardener has to continue waiting patiently as the green fruit grows bigger and ripens. Only after going through this long process does that tree finally bear sweet, juicy fruit that can be picked and enjoyed.

Just like that fruit tree, goals and dreams often take time to come true. The fruits of your efforts may not appear right away!

“Landscape photography offers a path to heightened awareness and reverence for the natural world, allowing us to appreciate its true essence. It serves as a meditative practice, fostering a profound relationship with the divine.”- Roman L. Binder

The lessons we can learn from wisdom, resilience, and delayed gratification are vital for any young man seeking success and fulfillment.

Take time to connect with nature, contemplate the wisdom embodied in trees, and integrate those teachings into your own growth.

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