The longer I accompany people, teams and organisations, the deeper a conviction grows in me: our gifts are a present. First for ourselves – and then for others.

I believe we're first allowed to live our gifts for a simple reason: because they bring us joy. Because they make us feel alive. That isn't selfish – it's often the first step toward being able to give what only we can give.

But the journey doesn't end there. At some point our gifts meet the gifts of other people. And exactly there something wonderful happens. One person masters something that no longer fulfils them, while another discovers exactly there their enthusiasm.

Perhaps that's an example of what it means to share your gift with the world. Athletes and pianists do it out of joy – and fill entire stadiums and concert halls. People in disaster relief or care work do it out of calling. And people who stand up for democracy, peace, conservation or sustainability do it because their impact eventually becomes felt on a global scale.

The world I
want to help shape.

I wish for a world where people don't work against one another, but grow together. A world where difference doesn't divide but enriches. A world where success isn't measured by how much we achieve, but by the contribution we make for one another and for future generations.

– Simone Reichstein