Why the hawthorn tree?

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This is a hawthorn tree just above Orton in the Yorkshire Dales. 

The hawthorn belongs to a genus of shrubs called the Crataegus, derived from the Greek word krátys meaning hard or strong.

It is happy to stand alone in exposed terrain, and lives between 250 and 400 years. 

The healthy growth on the surface relies on good roots and good soil.

It is like your business. 

Your leaves and branches are your performance. The soil is your culture. 

Without strong roots in healthy soil, the hawthorn does not survive. 

Without a strong, well managed culture, a business does not progress, does not respond to challenges, does not take opportunities.