Caring and Daring: A High-Performance Leadership Reflection on Defining Wealth

The Journey: Anchored in Caring and Daring Leadership

Last week, I had the privilege of participating in the High-Performance Leadership (HPL) program at 瑞士洛桑国际管理发展学院 (IMD) - 商学院 Business School, in collaboration with the YPO Young Presidents’ Organization. This intensive program, led by Professor GEORGE A KOHLRIESER PHD & ASSOCIATES INC , challenges leaders to reflect on their essence, their impact, and their legacy. It centers on the balance between care and courage—what Kohlrieser calls Caring and Daring Leadership.

One of the most profound outcomes of the program was to distill my life’s work into a single, defining statement. My result was this:

"You will never feel fully wealthy unless you create your own definition of wealth (and live it)."

At first, it seemed like an external principle, something to guide others. But the more I reflected, the more I realized it was deeply personal. This philosophy is more than an intellectual framework; it’s my own secure base — a foundation that balances care and courage in the most challenging of times.

This insight emerged from experiences of profound loss. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, corporate battles, and the wars of minds and hearts have taken much—physically, emotionally, and metaphorically. Each loss brought me back to a fundamental question:

What does it mean to feel truly wealthy in a world that can take so much away?

Through this introspection, I came to understand that my concept of a wealth of life isn’t just an idea — it’s both a memorial and a guide. It honors the memory of what’s been lost while daring to rebuild, reimagine, and grow beyond it.

The Inspiration of DNA: Caring and Daring as the Blueprint for Wealth

We often think of wealth as static — numbers in a bank account, possessions on a ledger. But true wealth is dynamic and deeply personal, much like the structure of DNA, which provides the blueprint for life. Inspired by this structure, Caring and Daring represent two strands that intertwine to create Your Wealth DNA.

• Caring grounds us.
• Daring propels us forward.

When these two strands come together, they form a unique personal blueprint — your Wealth DNA. This DNA shapes how you live fully and lead effectively, blending the security of the present with the possibilities of the future.

Caring: The Foundation of Redefining Wealth

True wealth isn’t about how much you have; it’s about what you care for.

• Caring for Yourself: Wealth starts within. It’s the alignment of your life with your values, aspirations, and well-being. This inner coherence becomes your secure base.
• Caring for Others: Relationships are a form of wealth that can’t be quantified. In Kohlrieser’s Secure Base Leadership, strong bonds anchor us and give us the courage to lead and live fully.
• Caring for the Future: Legacy isn’t just about what we leave behind—it’s about how we live today, creating ripples that carry forward.

Daring: The Courage to Redefine Wealth

Caring alone isn’t enough. To feel fully wealthy, we must dare to lead ourselves into new territories:

• Daring to Forgive: Emotional courage to reconcile with the past.
• Daring to Let Go: Releasing societal definitions of wealth—money, titles, possessions—requires boldness and trust in your own values.
• Daring to Live It: Fully embodying your personal definition of wealth, even in the face of uncertainty.

This isn’t always easy. Redefining wealth can feel unsettling at first — letting go of old beliefs and embracing uncertainty is inherently uncomfortable. But in this process lies the true wealth of life: a life lived fully aligned with your values.

Wealth of Life: A Global Vision

The need to redefine wealth is urgent, not just for individuals but for the world. As we face immense challenges—inequality, climate change, and social division—our conventional measures of wealth are failing us. True wealth is relational, transformational, and universal.

While cultures and traditions shape how we see wealth, the desire to feel fully wealthy is universal. Inspired by the DNA of life, Caring and Daring transcend borders, reminding us of our shared humanity. The leaders of tomorrow will not be those who only balance spreadsheets—they will be those who balance care and courage to redefine wealth not only for themselves but for their teams, communities, and future generations.

Your Wealth DNA: A Caring and Daring Invitation

The HPL program reminded me of this: True leadership begins with a secure base. Redefining wealth is an act of leadership—it creates a secure base for navigating life’s uncertainties and pursuing its possibilities.

So, I invite you to take the first steps in redefining your wealth:

1. Reflect: Ask yourself, What makes me feel fully wealthy today?
2. Define: Write down your current definition of wealth. Does it reflect your values, aspirations, and relationships?
3. Act: Take one small step to live your definition. It could be nurturing a relationship, letting go of something unfulfilling, or simply pausing to appreciate your unique wealth.

Caring and Daring will guide you toward a life that feels fully wealthy—aligned, secure, and alive with possibility.

A Final Thought

Wealth is not a destination or a number. It’s a dynamic, living system. It’s the secure base you build and the daring leap you take to live your truth.

What’s in your Wealth DNA? How will you start defining it today?