Grow your business organically
When I talk to anti-capitalist business owners and creatives about building their businesses, I often notice a common challenge: things feel scattered. Offers, marketing, clients — it’s like pieces of a puzzle without a frame.
That’s why I love thinking of a business as a tree, where every part supports the other, grows naturally, and has a place.
Here’s how I imagine it:
🌱 Roots = Core Values: The Foundation of Your Business
Every healthy tree starts with strong roots. In a business, your roots are your core values — the guiding principles that ground your decisions, shape your culture, and keep you steady when challenges rise.
When your roots are strong, your business is resilient. You know what matters most, and it informs every choice you make, from who you serve to how you show up in the world.
🌳 Trunk = Vision
The trunk is the backbone of your tree — strong, steady, and carrying the weight of all that grows above it. In your business, this is your vision: your long-term intention for your work, the reason your business exists beyond just earning money.
A clear vision keeps your tree growing upward in the right direction. It gives purpose to your branches and leaves, and it helps you stay focused when decisions get tricky.
🌿 Branches = Ideal Clients: Attract Your Dream Clients
Branches reach out into the world, connecting the trunk to sunlight. In your business, these are your ideal clients — the people who need what you offer, resonate with your values, and will support your growth.
When you know who your branches are reaching for, it’s easier to nurture the relationships that matter and let go of connections that drain energy. Your business grows stronger when your branches are intentional.
🌿 Twigs = Offers
The twigs of your tree represent your offers, services, and products. Twigs grow from the branches, connecting your vision and clients to tangible ways they can engage with your work.
Healthy twigs reflect a strong trunk and well-defined branches — your offers should always align with your core values and vision.
🍃 Leaves & Foliage = Sales & Marketing
The leaves and foliage are what everyone sees first. In your business, these are your marketing and sales strategies — the messaging, campaigns, and content that communicate your value and attract the right clients.
Healthy leaves depend on strong roots and a sturdy trunk. Offers that don’t reflect your core values or vision will feel disconnected — just like a tree with a sick canopy. Marketing is the sunlight that lets your leaves flourish, attracting the right people to your branches.
🌞 Why the Tree Model Matters
When you see your business as a living tree, it’s easier to:
Make decisions rooted in values, not just trends
Stay aligned with your vision and purpose
Build offers and marketing that actually nourish your clients
Grow sustainably, without overextending yourself
Your business isn’t just a collection of tasks; it’s a living system. When the roots are strong, the trunk steady, and the branches reaching the right people, the leaves will thrive
🌿 Map Your Business Tree
Roots: What are your 3–5 core values?
Trunk: What is your big-picture business vision?
Branches: Who are your ideal clients?
Twigs: What offers, services, and products reflect your values and vision?
Leaves & Foliage: How are you marketing and selling your work in alignment with your business tree?
This simple visual exercise helps Portland entrepreneurs and small business owners create clarity, confidence, and aligned action for their businesses.
💛 Need help growing your business tree?
Check out Rooted, my 1:1 coaching container for multi-passionate entrepreneurs who want to clarify offers, create aligned pricing, and build a business that thrives naturally.