African Sky teaches humility

Recently, I had the extraordinary opportunity to venture through Botswana, immersing myself in the stunning landscapes of the African bush. This journey not only left me with awe but also prompted introspection about my place in the world. It led me to contemplate the relative insignificance of my own existence and the triviality of the "first world problems" we often perceive as significant. Does it sound harsh? Perhaps, but I find it liberating. Especially in today's business-driven VUCA-World, where self-centeredness and exaggerated importance seem to prevail, taking a moment for self-reflection and embracing humility can work wonders. It really does. Because it brings kind of inner peace and allows us to approach the path ahead with a lighter and happier perspective.

During my time in Botswana, next to enjoying the African Bush, I engaged in various meetings and exchanges as well as meaningful discussions with local charities. The goal was to check-in on ongoing projects and defining new action points. As Co-founder of our Non for Profit Organisation "The Small Village Botswana" these interactions provided important, from the ground insights into the challenges faced by communities and underscored the importance of sustainable support initiatives. And just to be clear, we speak here about "real problems" like walking 20km to school, not having enough water or sexual abuse and HIV. After every meeting I felt somehow sad but at the same time really, really thankful to have these insights. Why? Because it helped me to reflect on my own challenges and put them in a harsh context.

Following these engagements, I went on a safari adventure into Botswana's wilderness, where the vast African Night Sky is just overwhelming and stunningly beautiful. This realization brings a sense of solace. Like the clear African Night Sky with all the various stars, we are merely small, glowing specks and "smal glowing things". While we are fortunate to exist, our absence would not disrupt the universe's balance. Hence, there is little need to overstate our own importance. I still wonder sometimes, why we think humans are "on top of the pyramid". This shift in mindset, from self-importance to humility, is profoundly valuable, particularly in the professional area. Amidst our hectic lives and ambitious pursuits, it is easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. We get caught up in trivial matters and sometimes forget - it is really mos of the time not about us. So, when we recognize our place in the "real big picture" we free ourselves from the weight of exaggerated self-importance. Saying this, I believe it is essential to embrace humility and cultivate a deeper awareness of our interconnections with the world. As we navigate our roles in society and the global business-community (and do not get me wrong, having ambitious and wanting to make a positive impact is glorious), we should think of ourselves more as a tiny, sparkling star in the African Sky. It is beautiful it is there, but if it is not, the Sky would still be wonderful. So each one as itself is not that relevant. Therefore, I believe it would benefit us all to dial down the significance we attach to our business problems and instead focus on the actions we take and the impact they generate. A potential solution and daily reminder? Adopting a slightly less self-important demeanor and embracing humility. (And I am bit "allergic" to people who claim to be humble - because true humility speaks for itself.)