What if the answer you're looking for was 70ft tall?

“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
- Zig Ziglar

Allison was getting ready to leave for her bachelorette trip last weekend.

The girls had rented a beautiful cabin on Lake Travis in Austin, TX, and she was so excited to spend some intentional time with her closest girlfriends.

If you’re anything like Allison, then you’d never plan a trip like this without putting together a thoughtful gift basket for each friend.

If you’re like me, the invite would’ve been a group text and a playlist link.

But now? My guys are also getting custom gift bags tomorrow when we head to Lake Arrowhead. 😂

That’s not the point of this letter though.

It’s what she included in those gift bags that stuck with me—and may just land for you too.

Among the treats and swag, Allison placed a single tarot card for each of her girls.

She pulled them randomly, trusting that whatever message came through would be exactly what each person needed to hear.

We love things like this.

After she finished hers, she called me in and said:

“Your turn.”

So I closed my eyes, set an intention, scattered the cards on the table, and picked the one that called to me.

It was exactly what I needed to hear.

And maybe… it’s what you need to hear too.

The message not only spoke to me, but I also got curious and wanted to learn a little more about this inspiring tree. 

I learned that…

Oak trees are considered a "keystone species," providing shelter, food, and shade to over 900 species of caterpillars alone.

The mighty oak typically lives around 250 years, with the oldest on record surpassing 2,000 years.

Growing to approximately 70 feet, for many cultures around the world the oak tree symbolizes strength, resilience, and courage—qualities essential for building anything meaningful.

But there's more I love about what this tree represents.

To live this long the oak tree must not waver in a storm, whether it's fierce tornado winds or the changing of seasons.

It doesn't grow to impress others, prove itself, or seek validation.

It knows only one role: to be a foundation for the life around it.

A pillar of strength for all of those who depend on it—not because it needs recognition, but because that's its purpose.

But what does this all have to do with becoming a Successful Solopreneur?

The oak tree is stable, consistent, and grows with conviction, making it a perfect metaphor for your business.

Your business will always be a direct reflection of you—your patterns, strengths, weaknesses, and most importantly, your character.

This can be a hard truth to accept, but that’s because it’s a hard truth.

Starting a business is the ultimate personal development journey.

No doubt, marriage and parenthood are profound journeys too, but the key difference is that your business will only ever grow as much as you do.

“A business will never outgrow the person who’s running it" - Unknown

To become a Successful Solopreneur, you must clarify who you are, who you're becoming, and why your work matters.

It’s easy to fall prey to the vanity of awards and recognition. We all get caught up sometimes. I certainly have. 

But remember why you started: to become a mighty oak—not just for yourself, but for everyone relying on your strength, courage, and example to reach their potential.

Just like the caterpillars relying on the oak to become butterflies, your business provides life, purpose, and possibility to those around you.

Nature knows the way. It's been succeeding long before we arrived.

So maybe there's something powerful we can learn from what a tiny acorn can become…

Your Teammate,

Matthew

If you’re ready to take the next step, here are two ways I can support you:

1. 🎧 Listen to The Successful Solopreneur Podcast

Candid conversations on unlocking your potential and building a business that aligns with who you’re becoming.

2. 🗓️ Book a Free Discovery Call

Prefer a more personal solution? Let’s talk about where you’re stuck and how I can help.

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