Seeing Through the Forest’s Eyes

I’ve learned something humbling about myself over the past months: sometimes the strongest vision I hold for my business isn’t the one it actually needs.

Earlier in this series, I wrote about the sapling I invested in heavily, the one that looked strong, appealing, and full of promise, only to realise it wasn’t aligned with what my business truly required. That moment forced me into uncomfortable territory: admitting that my perspective was limited, and that my “vision” was shaped as much by my biases as by reality.

And that’s when I realised something crucial. If I want my saplings to grow into trees, I cannot only look at the forest through my own eyes. I have to learn to see it as it is.

The Trap of Our Own Vision

We all carry a worldview, a lens through which we interpret events, opportunities, and risks. That worldview is shaped by our experiences, our expertise, and our identity. It gives us confidence, but it can also blind us.

In my case, I had a clear vision. It made sense, it was doable, and it felt exciting. But it was, in truth, an echo of my own desires, not a reflection of my business context. I wasn’t listening to the forest around me, to the customers, the signals, the needs of the moment.

When I finally saw other saplings rising, I realised they had been there all along. They were less attractive to me personally, but they were better suited to the soil of my business. That recognition didn’t come automatically. It required me to question my own assumptions and let go of the pride I’d attached to my “perfect” vision.

Shifting Worldviews: A Conscious Practice

Shifting worldviews doesn’t happen by accident. It is a conscious process, and one that requires:

• Curiosity: Asking what else is out there, what signs I might be missing, and what perspectives others can offer.
• Humility: Admitting that my initial take might not be right, and that others may see things I cannot.
• Critical Thinking: Testing assumptions, seeking evidence, and noticing where my biases creep in.
• Self-Reflection: Being honest about whether I’m choosing a sapling because it serves the business, or because it satisfies my own narrative.

These aren’t comfortable practices. They demand slowing down when everything feels urgent, and opening myself to perspectives that challenge me. But without them, I risk doubling down on the wrong sapling and missing the quiet growth happening in the shadows.

Bugs Bunny and Fortnite

It helps to put it in more playful terms. Bugs Bunny could have quipped: “If you want to catch a wabbit, you’ve gotta think like a wabbit.” The same is true in business. If I want to succeed in a complex, shifting environment, I can’t simply think like “me” and expect the forest to align.

Or in gaming terms: if you want to win in Fortnite, you can’t play like a bot. Bots run predictable patterns. They’re easy to outmanoeuvre because they don’t adapt. To succeed, you need to think like a pro player, reading the terrain, anticipating moves, and responding to what’s actually happening around you.

That’s the essence of shifting worldview: stepping outside of our programmed habits and seeing with fresh eyes.

Seeing Through the Forest’s Eyes

In business, it’s easy to mistake our vision for the truth. But the forest doesn’t care about our preferences. It will only sustain what fits the soil, the season, and the conditions of the moment.

To see clearly, we must learn to look through the forest’s eyes, not just our own. That means being curious about what is trying to emerge, humble enough to admit when we’re wrong, and reflective enough to catch our own blind spots.

It’s hard work. It requires commitment. But it’s also freeing. Because once I stepped outside my own lens, I saw possibilities I had overlooked, saplings I had ignored, and a future that wasn’t mine alone to define.

And that is where real growth begins.

Have you ever realised that your “perfect plan” was shaped more by your own worldview than by reality? What practices help you shift your perspective and see through the forest’s eyes?