Mast Seeding
Business mast years occur in cyclical markets (holiday retail Q4, product launches, IPO windows).
Recovery periods are not 'wasted years' - they're mandatory allocation to non-reproductive demands.
Oak trees exhibit synchronized mast seeding - massive acorn production (60 kg in mast year) alternating with minimal production (2 kg in recovery year) on 2-7 year cycles. In mast years, allocation shifts to 80% reproduction, 10% growth, 10% survival - visible in narrow tree rings from reduced wood production. Synchronized overproduction across entire forests overwhelms predator consumption (squirrels, deer, jays can't eat 60,000 kg of acorns), ensuring some seeds survive. Recovery years are mandatory - survival and growth must be restored before next mast year. This cyclical allocation strategy demonstrates that continuous maximum reproduction is unsustainable.
Business Application of Mast Seeding
Business mast years occur in cyclical markets (holiday retail Q4, product launches, IPO windows). Companies should allocate 80% to opportunity during mast years, then force recovery (10% opportunity, 50% growth, 40% survival) to rebuild reserves. Continuous mast-year allocation leads to resource depletion and death.