Self-Care: The Foundation for Caring for Others

We live in a hectic world full of distractions and expectations that can hold back the most ambitious leaders from fulfilling their potential. We have to ask ourselves, "How are we complicit in creating the conditions we say we don’t want?" The answers to this question can vary greatly and cannot be given in this talk. What I aim to provide is a way to create space for even considering the question and ultimately finding a solution. Over the last eight years, I attempted to build a company that would reshape the cocoa industry until I realized I needed to reshape myself first. I ended up nearly burned out, feeling overwhelmed and lost. It was then that my best friend introduced me to the stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius, who shared his struggles in his diary, which fortunately survived until today. The basic stoic values can be translated into the following strategies for modern everyday life:

1. Establish a Routine.
2. Put Your Phone Down.
3. Spend Time with a Journal.
4. Tackle the Hardest Thing First.
5. Learn to Say No A Lot.

For each of these guidelines, I will share my personal experiences and provide more theoretical input.