The Universal Growth Model

Learning from the universe’s mathematical formula for growth in sustainable and harmonious balance.

What does growth look like, in your mind?

In our profits– and business-driven culture, “growth” is most often portrayed visually as a chart with X and Y axes, and a line going up and to the right. More is better. Bigger is better. We must grow, grow, grow!

This cultural touchstone, however, is a gross misunderstanding of how growth happens everywhere else in the Universe. In nature, in the cosmos, growth does not occur in an ever-expanding way. All systems are finite, and infinite growth would thus eventually use up and destroy the very system it’s growing in.

But growth is an inherent part of life. All living things grow into form from something tiny, and even at a cosmic scale we can see how growth occurred for stars, planets, solar systems and galaxies alike. And nature has found ways for all of that growth to be sustainable. Harmonious.

Balanced.

That equilibrium is not by chance. In fact, there is a mathematical sequence that underpins all of this growth, and is so commonplace in nature—at every scale—that it is known as “the natural numbering system of the cosmos.” I am of course talking about…

The Fibonacci Sequence

Popularized by Leonardo of Pisa, commonly known as Fibonacci, this sequence of numbers starts out with 0, then 1, and subsequently continues by constantly taking the sum of the last two numbers as its next number:

0+1=1, 1+1=2, 1+2=3, 2+3=5, 3+5=8, 5+8=13…

This Fibonacci sequence continues endlessly, but each two successive numbers in the sequence approximate the Golden Ratio, also known as Phi (φ). This ratio is called Golden because it bears some fairly special qualities, one of which is that we as human beings find it intrinsically pleasing or aesthetically beautiful.

The Fibonacci sequence, when taken by the square of each successive number, also plots out what’s known as the Golden Spiral:

There is a certain magic to the Fibonacci numbers that has delighted people throughout history, even before their naming in 1202 A.D. And there’s good reason for it!

From the atomic to the galactic

The Fibonacci sequence and the Golden Ratio are prominent across all of nature, from the tiniest inter-atomic distances all the way to planetary and even inter-planetary scales.

In nature, on planet Earth, you’ll find the Fibonacci sequence and approximating (if not exact) spiral designs everywhere. That’s because this ratio allows for growth to happen in the most successful, effective, and sustainable ways. And one has to admit there is a certain beauty to the spiral and this sequence, even if some people take it too far.

While not everything that approximates the Golden Ratio is exactly φ, it is worth pointing out that this sequence and this ratio is incredibly commonplace in nature, even if by chance:

Even when many things aren’t exactly the Golden Ratio, so much in nature approximates it all the same. It’s trying to be Golden, as it were.

Whatever nature’s secret understanding of the Why behind it may be, we know that this model essentially creates a form of equilibrium.

And right now, our world needs equilibrium more than ever.

A Cosmic Model For Growth

In Love First, we use both the Fibonacci sequence and the more general spiral design as our model for growth.

The Fibonacci Sequence serves as a source of mathematical inspiration for us. For example, wherever possible, Love First-related products and ticket prices are done in Fibonacci numbers ($21, $55, etc.) instead of hijacking human psychology with the “end-in-9” technique, e.g. $49 instead of $50—because sticker price concerns are driven largely by the first digit you see. (You get a pass if your price point is around $89 😉)

Spiral design is our visual and conceptual model for growth for a number of reasons:

First, because spirals move outwards in multiple directions, not just one. It reminds us to take a holistic approach and mindset for how we should think about growth, and what we should consider in our equations. For example, a company wanting to grow sales should also be considering the impact of increased production, on the environment as well as many other aspects of its business, both internal and external.

For the individual, spiral growth is a reminder to step outside of your comfort zone. Patrolling the border of your comfort zone, just exploring the circumference, will not make you better. Venture beyond what is “safe” and find the magic!

Second, the spiral pattern in nature teaches us about unity: each segment in a Nautilus shell has roughly the same exact shape, just slightly bigger or smaller. In that sense, even though they are different, they are also the same. This kind of unity is true for humans, too—one that we would do well to remember more frequently. Our ideological differences obscure and distract from the truth that we are all far more alike than we are different.

Third, the spiral pattern invites us to think in growth in a way that is sustainable: sometimes the spiral moves down, sometimes up; sometimes to the left, and then back to the right. The capitalistic “up and to the right” model is inherently unsustainable; the spiral reminds us that sometimes we need Degrowth. Reflection. Looking in other directions.

Using the nautilus shell again: each successive volution of the spiral comes back to its previous volution, and creates a stronger, bigger protective barrier around it. It’s a reminder not to leave our past in the dust, but to honor it and protect it. For a company, this could be an invitation to reflect whether it is staying true to its founding core values and its mission. It could also be an opportunity to make sure the employees, who are the real value of the company, are appropriately paid what they deserve, are given the respect and dignity they deserve, and are having their voices heard and honored.

Finally, the prevalence and function of spiral designs and φ in nature demonstrate that this kind of growth is balanced.

From the rings of Saturn that found their equilibrium in φ to the seeds in a sunflower, this model leads to outcomes that are unifying, sustainable, and balanced, or as we say in Love First: Harmonious.

And that’s exactly the kind of growth we believe will make for a more Loving world.