Change

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For over 200 years, the Sugarbush (Protea repens) was considered South Africa’s national flower.  Seen initially by early European settlers as an abundant source of firewood on the coastal flats, the Sugarbush came to be appreciated for its sweet nectar, which was boiled down into a syrup and used as a sugar-substitute (hence the name Sugarbush).  This thick, ruby-red syrup, called Bossiestroop, later became popular in the 1800s as a favorite local medicine for curing coughs and other chest ailments. 

History aside, the Sugarbush produces large beautiful flowers that range in color from creamy white to pink to deep red.  In fact, the “flowers” are actually flower heads with a collection of flowers in the middle surrounded by large colorful leaves.  And though these flowers seem fragile, the sturdy, dense shrub that produces them is anything but.  The Sugarbush has hard, leathery leaves that protect it against most insect attacks.  And it is tolerant to a large variety of growing conditions, flourishing on coastal flats as well as on mountain slopes up to 1500 meters high. 

Protea repens is also found in fire prone vegetation, where it has actually adapted to depend on the forest fires that occur periodically for its survival.  It not only produces seeds throughout its lifetime, it actually stores some of them inside tough, fire-proof seed heads, which won’t be stimulated to re-open until they have been scorched by fire.  When the fire has passed, the seeds emerge and fall to the ground undamaged and ready for the rainy season that follow.  Soon a new Sugarbush grows out of the ashes of the old one, owing its life to the very flames that sought to destroy it months earlier. 

All of us fight occasional forest fires in our lives.  People come and go.  Situations change.  Acquisitions and downsizings occur.  Often our first reaction is to try to extinguish the flames, to simply put out the fire so we don’t have to deal with change and its aftermath.  But the next time you feel the heat building, consider the Sugarbush and think about adapting to – rather than fighting – change.  You never know what seeds of opportunity may emerge for you after the smoke clears.

For more information about Ken Chapman and Associates’ Leadership Development Programs, contact Ken Chapman at 205.366.0265 or email Ken at kchapman@leaderscode.com.

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