The Strategy Guy's Blog
By the time we reach our late teens, our personal values are largely set. These values rarely change, except under circumstances of significant stress, sudden loss, or upheaval related to something deeply important.
In the past, personal values were often shaped by religion and family. However, many young people today are products of broken families, which bring their own set of values. In our modern era, social media has replaced both religion and family as the primary influences shaping our children’s person value systems!
In our world, personal values profoundly influence leadership styles, strategic choices, and organisational cultures.
Tesla’s Elon Musk endured a tumultuous upbringing marked by relentless bullying and a strained relationship with his father. These experiences forged his values of resilience, toughness, and risk tolerance, which are central to his strategic approach.
Satya Nadella finally became an empathetic leader after the birth of his son...
Death | Just a Change of Address
This week, my subscriptions to The Economist and Harvard Business Review had a change of address; I recently redirected them to my father’s house in Torquay.
As I walk this final path with my father - caring for him 24/7 as his night nurse, cook, secretary and palliative companion I find myself reflecting on life and death.
Witnessing Dad’s inevitable journey is gently shaping my understanding in new ways.
Death isn’t the opposite of life; it’s part of the same process, like the ebb and flow of the tides. When my children were born, they cried as they inhaled fully to enter the world. As Dad lets go, his in-breath is faint, his exhale deep and sharp.
In each moment, each of us inhales life and exhales death.
Caring for Dad is teaching me that life and death are not distant destinations to be discovered; both are always here, unfolding moment by moment through the heartfelt acts of service and love we share with each other...