Often a Tree With Few Leaves Bears the Best Fruit

January 31, 2026

We live in the era of the "Leaf."

Scroll through social media, walk through a shopping mall, or listen to a pitch meeting, and you will see an obsession with foliage. We value things that are lush, shiny, and immediately impressive. We want the website to pop, the person to be instantly charismatic, and the investment to look sexy on a slide deck.

We have been conditioned to believe that if something looks good on the outside, it must be good on the inside. But nature and the pragmatic people of Iceland knows that the opposite is often true.

There is a timeless Icelandic proverb that serves as a warning against our obsession with appearances:

"Oft ber blaðfátt tré bestan ávöxtinn."

Translated into English, it means: "Often a tree with few leaves bears the best fruit."

The Biology of Success

To understand this wisdom, you have to understand energy. A tree has a limited amount of resources. If it pours all its energy into growing magnificent, glossy leaves to attract attention, it has very little left to create the fruit.

Conversely, a tree that looks a bit scraggly, with sparse branches and modest leaves, might look unimpressive at a glance. But that’s because it is directing every ounce of its energy into the fruit—the thing that actually provides nourishment and value.

The Investment Trap

This saying is perhaps the best financial advice you will ever get. In the investment world, the "leafy trees" are the hype companies. They have the coolest logos, the most charismatic CEOs, and the buzziest keywords. They look incredible from a distance.

But often, if you peel back the leaves, there is no fruit. There is no profit, no sustainable model, just empty branches.

The "sparse tree" is the boring business. It’s the logistics company with a terrible website from 2005. It’s the rental property that needs a paint job. It doesn’t look like much, but because it isn't wasting resources on hype, it is quietly generating massive value. If you judge only by appearance, you will miss the best opportunities.

The Hidden Gem in Friendship

This bias affects our relationships, too. When we meet new people, we are naturally drawn to the "leafy" personalities: the loud storytellers, the stylish dressers, the ones who light up the room.

But beware of the "Halo Effect", the psychological tendency to assume that because someone is good-looking or charming, they are also kind and smart. Often, the best friend you will ever have is the "blaðfátt tré"—the quiet person in the corner, the one who is a bit awkward, or the one who doesn't make a great first impression. They aren't spending their energy on social performance, so they have more energy for loyalty, deep listening, and genuine support.

How to See Past the Leaves

Breaking the habit of judging by appearance is hard. Our brains want to jump to conclusions fast. Here are three practical tips to help you slow down and find the hidden fruit:

1. The "Three-Interaction" Rule Never form a final opinion on a person or an opportunity after just one meeting. First impressions are almost entirely based on "leaves" (appearance/charisma). Force yourself to have at least three interactions before you decide. The truth usually reveals itself on the third time.

2. Audit the Output, Not the Package In business or work, stop looking at the presentation. Look at the data. If you are hiring someone, don't be dazzled by the resume font or their interview suit. Look at what they have actually built. A messy resume might hide a brilliant mind.

3. Ask: "Where is the energy going?" When you look at a product or a person, ask yourself: "Where are they spending their effort?" If someone spends 2 hours getting ready in the morning but hasn't read a book in a year, they are prioritizing leaves. If a company spends millions on Super Bowl ads but cuts customer service, they are prioritizing leaves. Look for the entities that invest in the "unseen" parts of existence.

It takes courage to pick the scraggly tree. It goes against our instincts. But if you can learn to pause, look past the shiny exterior, and hunt for the hidden value, you will find relationships and opportunities that others miss.

Word	Meaning
Oft	Adverb meaning "often."
Ber	Verb bera. Meaning "bears" or "carries."
Blaðfátt	Adjective, compound of blað (leaf) + fátt (few). Meaning "leaf-few" or "sparse-leaved."
Tré	Noun meaning "tree."
Bestan	Adjective meaning "the best."
Ávöxtinn	Noun meaning "the fruit."