Did you know that cork—yes, the stuff in your wine bottle—can’t even be harvested until the tree is 25 years old?
And the first harvest? Practically useless for anything fine.
The second? Better, but still not good enough.
It’s not until the third harvest, decades in, that the good stuff emerges.
Cork doesn’t come from a machine or a factory. It’s harvested from a tree. A tree that takes decades to become useful.
The first harvest happens when the tree is 25. The bark is rough, brittle. Almost unusable.
The second harvest comes 9 years later. Better, but still inconsistent.
Only after the third harvest—at around 45 years old—does the tree produce high-quality cork. The kind used for fine wines and precise applications.
And that cycle continues for the rest of the tree’s long life. Every 9 years, another yield—each one better than the last.
No shortcuts. No substitutes. Just slow, faithful growth.
It made me wonder: What if our early seasons aren’t meant to be impressive? What if they’re meant to prepare us for the work that really matters?
Perhaps We’re in Too Much of a Hurry
So many leaders and professionals feel pressure to arrive early.
We want to hit the ground running. Impress. Prove we belong. Make our mark.
But when we expect our early “harvests” to be perfect, we set ourselves up for discouragement. It’s not supposed to be perfect at the beginning. It’s supposed to teach us.
On the other hand, the bigger danger might not be trying too hard too soon—but settling too soon.
Believing that our best contributions are behind us. That once we reach midlife, it’s time to sit down. Relax. Just cruise.
But the cork oak tree tells a different story.
Let me ask: What if you’re not done? What if your most meaningful impact still lies ahead?
The Best Might Be Yet to Come
Cork oak trees can live for over 200 years. And they can keep producing high-quality cork for more than a century—from their third harvest well into their 150s.
That means the majority of their usefulness happens after midlife. Not before.
What if the same was true for us?
What if your career, your business, your leadership, your relationships, your impact . . . is just now hitting its most valuable season?
What It Takes to Keep Growing
Here’s the secret: long-lasting productivity is never about constant hustle. The cork oak produces excellent harvests because it’s nurtured and protected between each cycle.
It needs rest. Water. Time. Sunlight. Space to regenerate.
You and I are no different.
The leaders I coach often come in burned out or unclear—not because they’re lazy, but because they’ve been trying to stay “harvest-ready” at all times.
But sustainable, meaningful work doesn’t come from always producing. It comes from creating a disciplined environment for intentional growth—one that includes both nurturing and rest.
From:
- Clarifying what really matters now.
- Reconnecting with purpose, not just pressure [I see you, business colleagues.]
- Creating margin so you can lead strategically, not reactively.
In Business and Life: Give Your Best Years Room to Grow
What if your next great season will only happen…
- If you release the pressure to impress,
- If you stop pretending you’re behind, and
- If you give yourself the grace and space to mature into your next level?
Whether you’re 35 or 65, you’re not done.
But you might need to nurture your inner landscape the way a steward nurtures and protects a cork grove:
- Prune the distractions.
- Let go of unproductive busyness.
- Dissolve your deficiency stories.
- Get honest about where you’ve settled.
- And commit to the long game for value and impact.
As John Maxwell wisely said,
“Growth is the great separator between those who succeed and those who don’t.”
Don’t Quit Before the Third Harvest
Every leader I admire has a “third harvest” story. Seasons where they kept showing up—even when the results were slow or unseen. Times when they chose to keep learning, keep growing, and keep investing—not because it was easy, but because they sensed something deeper was still unfolding.
The truth? With age comes more than just experience. It brings wisdom, perspective, and the maturity to lead with depth. To create with intention. To influence with humility and strength.
But here’s the risk: Just when we’re reaching the season of highest value, we start lowering our expectations. We tell ourselves we’ve peaked. That the next generation has more to offer. That maybe it’s time to step back, shrink down, or play small.
Don’t buy that lie.
You’ve never had more clarity, more insight, more value, and more capacity to make meaningful impact than you do right now—if you choose to lean in.
If you’ve been feeling discouraged, off-track, or unsure whether you still have something valuable to contribute… don’t quit. This might not be the end of your story—it might be the chapter your whole life was preparing you to write.
Every one of us has a deep desire to make a difference. Even if we’ve buried it or put it up on a shelf—it’s still there.
Where are you on your journey?
Coaching helps you get clear on the season you’re in—and build the structure to support what’s next. If you’re ready to nurture your next harvest, let’s talk.
P.S. I’ve worked with coaches throughout my career—but it wasn’t until my late 50s that I began working with coaches who focused on mindset and intentional growth, not just performance tactics. That shift changed everything: my life, my leadership, and my sense of purpose.
P.P.S. If you have a third harvest story, share it below. You never know who you might encourage—especially someone still in their earlier seasons of growth.
