Engineering Growth: Trees Grow Better in Forests

In Ted Lasso, Coach Beard (the best character, fight me 😜) drops this wisdom:

“You know, we used to believe that trees competed with each other for light. Suzanne Simard’s field work challenged that perception, and we now realize that the forest is a socialist community. Trees work in harmony to share the sunlight.”

I can’t stop thinking about this. Trees don’t fight over sunlight. They share it. They help each other grow. Even when there is minimal resources.

I’ve been a mentor for most of my career. Even during times when I probably should have been “focusing on myself.”

My philosophy is simple:

When you help someone, really help them, they feel it. They feel valued. And people who feel valued want to give back. Sometimes that’s friendship. Sometimes it’s having your back when things get tough.

It also changes how people see you. They’re not just happy to work with you—they actively support your ideas. They fight for the same things you fight for. Not because you asked them to, but because that’s what happens when you invest in people.

I’ve watched others do the opposite. They guard their knowledge like it’s gold. They gatekeep. And you know what happens? People resent them. Everyone’s on edge. Nobody trusts anyone.

Knowledge hoarding is a losing game. It creates small kingdoms ruled by fear, where innovation dies and people leave. The hoarders think they’re protecting their value, but they’re actually challenging it. Your value isn’t tied to exclusive knowledge! 

Knowledge grows through exchange, through challenge, through teaching someone else and realizing you understand it better yourself.

If trees are helping growing each other. Human should do better..