Why “The Three Aspens?”

Why “The Three Aspens?” Since I launched this consultancy, folks often inquire about the name, and hashtag#NationalArborDay seems the perfect date to offer an explanation. Some will already know this, but to many it will be a new story.

The “Three” is easy; this honors my three children … my most cherished ‘designs’ … the dearest ones who have been my team in so many profound ways over their 30+ years.

The “Aspens” is where a (literally) deeper meaning lies. Long interested in the ‘Aspen Effect,’ I use this analogy – the interconnected nature of aspen trees – to inspire organizational vitality. Above the ground, aspens stand tall and sturdy as singular trees, but below grade, they are interlinked through a shared and elaborate root system. (This is why one never sees an aspen tree standing alone; they are always in groves.) Similarly, organizations, firms, and entities need to be the web of nourishment and enrichment for their members or teams, helping them flourish. Aspen trees are sometimes brilliant in a burst of fabulous fall color; at other times, they quake under the force of a powerful wind or flex with the weight of heaping snow. However, no matter what their environment imposes on them, aspens are sustained by their strong network of roots, depending on that connectivity for their individual well-being. Through The Three Aspens, Ltd. we apply the ‘Aspen Effect’ to help entities be (or become) that nurturing wellspring of support.

To me, this botanical model has particular application to design-related firms and small non-profits, where collaborative culture is crucial to organizational success and enduring vibrancy.

Image Credit: “Violetgrove” (9), acrylic on board by Michael Kessler, owned and photographed by Helene.