The King is dead, long live the King!

It is a tricky one, but based on available research, our title can be attributed to France in 1422. That is when "Le roi est mort, vive le roi!" was first documented.

It was proclaimed upon King Charles VII's accession to the French throne following his father's death, King Charles VI. The announcement was traditionally made by a specific official, the Duke of Uzès, who was responsible for proclaiming the new king's reign as the previous king's coffin descended into a vault. This ceremonial act, steeped in tradition and symbolism, marked the transition of power and the beginning of a new era in the kingdom. I could not resist asking my friendly neighbourhood AI-driven image generator to capture this transition's essence. I have to say, using AI for image generation has come a long way!

The phrase captures acknowledgement for what has been and recognises and celebrates what is to come or how we most often refer to it – change.? The world is changing and will continue to change, yet the speed of change right now feels like someone has stepped on the accelerator panel a bit too hard. You don't have to look too far or think too hard, and you can identify many things moving in a different direction. Global warming (so visible with all the weather-related disasters and record temperatures), the AI super cycle (the current period of rapid technological advancement in artificial intelligence), geopolitics remaining on a knife edge, the list goes on and on. But amidst this whirlwind of change, we, as humans, have shown remarkable resilience. We adapt, we innovate, and we continue to strive for?a?better future. This resilience, this ability to face change head-on, is what inspires us and should inspire you too.??

But not all change is negative. I firmly believe that, in the end, AI will tip the scale towards the good. The focus on green energy holds immense potential; it won't immediately reverse the damage done, but it can, as a minimum, slow things down. These are just two examples. While there will always be change scenarios that create uncertainty and fear, it's essential to hold onto hope and optimism for the future. Your values and beliefs will guide you through the storm of change, helping you stay true to yourself and your aspirations.?Focus your energy on those tasks you can complete and manage, while being there for those needing support. Through this mindset, you will ultimately be able to live a life with as few regrets as possible.?

We recently had the privilege to hear from Hennie De Klerk , the CEO and founder of TreasuryONE (Pty) Ltd , about his experiences and lessons learned during the three Dakar rallies he participated in. The Dakar rally, known for its gruelling conditions and unpredictable challenges, showcases the concept of unpredictability and the need for resilience in the face of change. He showed us a short clip of his last rally where he and his co-driver were stuck in the middle of the desert due to a mechanical breakdown that was entirely out of their control - their participation in the race was over. One of my colleagues then asked the question - given that your race ended fairly early and looking at all the preparation and logistics that go into participating in such an event - do you not regret going through all of that? He gave a very resounding response of "No". You can't live a life of could have, should have, what if. Just the mere fact that specific opportunities come across your path is something to celebrate. Not all of them will work out according to plan, but you can't have a mindset of - what if it doesn't work out? Success is not guaranteed; failure is not inevitable, and regrets can be avoided.

The only constant may be change; the old will pass, and the new will come, but do not allow that to blur your vision, distort your dreams and goals or withhold you from enjoying life.? We should continually cultivate a spirit of curiosity, learning and adaptation, to help us overcome obstacles and seize opportunities. Let us appreciate the journey as much as the destination and celebrate our achievements as well as our failures. And most importantly, let us live with purpose, passion, and gratitude, knowing that we can also be the reason for positive change in the world.