Weekly Impact is written for leaders by our Executive Director, Garth Jestley, who has decades of experience in senior leadership roles in the financial services sector. Each week he will share insights on life, leadership and faith.
In the May 25th, 2017 edition of The Economist, there was an article about an enormous new investment fund. Launched on May 20th by SoftBank and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), along with smaller investors including Apple and Sharp, the Vision Fund is the world’s largest technology-investment fund, worth nearly US $100 billion.
The fund will be managed by Masayoshi Son, founder and CEO of SoftBank, and his team. Established in 1981, SoftBank is a Japanese multinational telecommunications and Internet corporation headquartered in Tokyo.
I was struck by the opening quote. Son confided recently, “I haven’t accomplished anything I can be proud of in my 60 years on earth.”
How can this be?! Consider the following facts concerning SoftBank and its founder according to Wikipedia.
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SoftBank was ranked in the Forbes Global 2000 list as the 62nd largest public company in the world, and the third largest public company in Japan after Toyota and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial. Between 2009 and 2014, SoftBank’s market capitalization increased by 557%, the fourth largest relative increase in the world over that period.
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According to Forbes magazine, Son’s estimated net worth is US $20.4 billion and he is the richest man in Japan.
Son’s perspective on his accomplishments should give every aspiring marketplace leader pause. After all, he has achieved more in the business realm than most marketplace leaders ever dare to dream. His comment begs the question: What is the view when I get to the summit? On a related note, will I achieve fulfillment or will I find myself wondering about the purpose of my climb to the top once I reach it?
While achieving goals can be very fulfilling, it does not satisfy our deepest longings.
This topic reminds me of the story of Boris Becker, the tennis champion. He arrived at the summit – two wins at Wimbledon, wealth, cars and women – and found no peace, only emptiness. As a result, he came close to taking his own life.
While achieving goals can be very fulfilling, it does not satisfy our deepest longings. According to the book “Soul Cravings” by Irwin McManus, every one of us, including Son and Becker, has three deep cravings – destiny, intimacy and meaning. Our various life pursuits often leave us feeling empty precisely because they do not address these cravings in a satisfying manner.
My personal encounter with Jesus many years ago deeply satisfied these cravings. While the challenges of life did not disappear, my attitude to both success and failure changed profoundly. Today, I cannot imagine an abundant life outside of my relationship with Jesus. About himself, Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6(a))
What about you? Are you happy with your life? Do you find yourself wondering about purpose? Our professional peer groups are safe places to explore these and other big questions. Please connect with us. We would be happy to help you join a group.
Garth Jestley is a husband, father, grandfather, leader and business executive. Most importantly, he is a follower of Jesus Christ.