The Three Saguaro Lessons
Build inner reserves in good times so criticism never fully burns you
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time to result
- ~ongoing to results
- Steps
- 3
- Confidence
- 60%
Drawn from a desert guide's description of the saguaro cactus, this is a three-part mental model for withstanding criticism. First, even on the hottest days the sun only ever hits half the cactus, so whatever heat comes your way, part of you stays in the shade and untouched. Second, the saguaro expands its base to absorb as much water as possible when it rarely rains, so you should replenish your internal reservoir during times of health and abundance, leaving you nourished when the heat arrives. Third, the saguaro's beautiful drooping arms form only because collected water freezes in the cold desert night and bends them, meaning its beauty is the product of the harshest environment. Applied to a founder's life, criticism can never permeate all of you, resilience is stored in advance, and the finest parts of who you are are often the result of the hardest moments.
Origin
Jasmine Star took notes during a guided hike through the Phoenician desert, where a guide explained how the saguaro cactus survives, and applied the lessons to a hostile direct message she later received.
Core principles
- 01No single attack can hit all of you at once, so there is always shade to stand in
- 02Replenish yourself during abundance so you're nourished when the heat comes
- 03The most beautiful parts of a life are often forged by the harshest conditions
- 04Other people's opinions of your choices don't pay your bills
How to run it
- 1
Stand in the shade
Remember that even on the hottest days the saguaro is only ever half exposed to the sun. When people throw heat, the hottest part always exists on the other side of a shaded part you can retreat to.
- 2
Expand your reservoir in the good times
Like the saguaro expanding its base to absorb rain, replenish yourself when things are healthy and abundant so your internal reservoir is full before the heat comes.
Pro tip Do the replenishing proactively during calm periods, not reactively during a crisis.
- 3
Reframe the harshness as the source of beauty
The saguaro's beautiful drooping arms result from water freezing in harsh cold. Treat your hardest circumstances as the forge for the most beautiful parts of your life.
In the wild
After posting that she was the only female founder at a 33-person mastermind and that this needs to change, Jasmine Star received a cruel direct message attacking her parenting and character. Rather than being crushed, she applied the saguaro lessons she'd noted on a desert hike: the heat couldn't touch all of her, her reserves were full from good times, and she reminded herself that others' opinions don't pay her bills. She processed the attack as a drive-by and moved on.
→ She stayed grounded, kept her confidence as a mother and founder, and turned the incident into teaching content.
Common mistakes
Only building resilience once the attack lands
If you wait until the heat comes to find your footing, your reservoir is empty. The model works because you expand your base during abundance, in advance.
Is it for you?
Best for
Creators and founders who put themselves out publicly and take heat for their choices.
Not ideal for
Someone who needs a concrete tactical process rather than a resilience mindset.
From the transcript
“even on the hottest days, the saguaro is only ever half exposed to the sun.”
“collect the most you can while creating pathways of expansion.”
From the episode
Lessons I Learned Being The Only Woman In The Room