Before I ventured into the world of business, I was, and continue to remain, an ardent nature enthusiast. Drawn to nature at every opportunity, when I visit a new city, I always seek out the green spaces on offer for quiet inspiration. To me, nothing compares to a Sunday morning trek through our nearby forest with my K-9 companions. Given the choice between a laboratory or the great outdoors, I’d choose the latter without hesitation. Upon reflection, it’s no coincidence that my early career path led me to become a marine scientist. Now, at Senus, my work is dedicated to measuring and protecting nature.

The Competitive Edge of Nature: Overcoming Challenges

Recently, I’ve started to contemplate the relationship between nature and business. Mostly, I’ve pondered how businesses can contribute more significantly to reversing the decades of damage done to our ecosystems, consequently enhancing both human and environmental well-being. However, the more I delve into this question, the more sobering and apparent it becomes that capitalism often prioritises wealth above environmental preservation. Despite our intentions, the undeniable consequences of our relentless pursuit of economic growth have led to the destruction of precious ecosystems.

Despite challenges, there are hopeful signs on the horizon. The EU’s nature restoration law is one such signal of a step in the right direction. While it is viewed as a threat by some sectors, including agriculture, it also presents an opportunity. Agriculture, as the primary user of land, holds the unique position to facilitate nature restoration for a multitude of industries. 

Another encouraging trend is the increasing number of businesses embracing positive change. Groups such as Business for Biodiversity in Ireland and the global rise of B Corps highlight a notable shift in business ethos and practices, reflecting a growing commitment to sustainability.

While there are many challenges facing the modern world and the environment, it’s important to acknowledge and support the glimmers of hope that exist. By focusing on and nurturing these positive developments, we can contribute to meaningful change and inspire others to join in the effort towards a more sustainable future.

Bravery in Business: Lessons from the Coot

For those willing to delve deeper into nature’s wisdom, the rewards are boundless. From my own reflections, I’ve distilled five invaluable lessons nature offers to business:

• Competition: Both nature and business are arenas of fierce competition. Nature is extremely competitive, and you must be strong, agile and intuitive to survive. Think of the sound of garden birds as they protect their hard won territories. That beautiful early morning chorus is in fact a mass marketing campaign to either attract a mate or ward off competition. It’s akin to tweets going viral in your garden. 
• Hunting is essential: In nature, relentless pursuit is essential for survival. Take the shrew, for instance. If it stops hunting, it has only about two hours to live. With a diet requiring 80 to 90% of its body weight daily, it’s evolved into a hunting powerhouse. Similarly, little wrens in our gardens never cease their hunt; survival hinges on it. In business, complacency leads to starvation, akin to the fate of the shrew. Proactive pursuit is the cornerstone of sustenance and success.
• Relationships are paramount: Wildlife exists within a complex web of interconnectedness crucial for survival and prosperity. Consider the relationship between a wrasse and a whale. The fish removes unwanted parasites from the whale’s body while benefiting from a bountiful meal. It’s a match made in heaven. Similarly, business operates within a network of relationships, some essential and perhaps one-sided, while others are fully symbiotic and collaborative. 
• Resilience is indispensable: Survival in the natural world demands a constant battle against the odds. Nature is a series of challenges—from weather to predators, habitat loss, and pollution—that must be overcome to ensure success. The challenges in business, albeit different, are present nonetheless. Just as a salmon instinctively returns to its birthplace for survival, businesses must confront these challenges with the same determination to thrive and ensure their longevity in the competitive landscape.
• Be brave and protect what matters most: A profound lesson I recently learnt was from a humble coot. It’s a small water bird merely half the size of a chicken. I witnessed a swan approach a pair of coots guarding their newly laid nest of eggs. The swans’ intrusion into the coot household was a mystery, yet to the coot, one can imagine facing a giant ten times their size would be terrifying. The female coot held her ground, chirping loudly as the swan neared. Her lifelong mate, emerging from the weeds, aggressively charged at the intruder and made it clear he was unwelcome. 
  
  Climbing onto the side of the nest, he made his body as broad as possible and continually confronted the swan’s many advances. With unwavering determination, they prioritised the safety of their family above all else. This display of courage underscores the importance of standing firm for what truly matters, even in the face of adversity. In business, emulating the coot’s resilience and commitment to values ensures eventual triumph, reminiscent of the coot’s victory after what must have felt like an eternity.

Embracing Our Connection with Nature

Nature surrounds us everywhere we go and in everything we do. We rely on our environment to produce food, materials, and textiles and to provide us with living spaces, among many other things. Seeing nature merely as an external entity or a resource for exploitation creates a rift between us and our surroundings, leading to the degradation of ecosystems. We must recognise that we are inherently connected to nature; it is an extension of ourselves. Take a moment to pause, observe, and absorb the lessons nature offers. By attuning ourselves to nature’s wisdom, we can gain invaluable insights. Remember, embody the resilience and determination of a coot in standing up for what matters most.

Brendan Allen,
Co-Founder, Director of Business Development at Senus