We are always connected

We are our relationships. It’s a phrase that doesn’t translate easily into English, yet it holds so much meaning for me. As a leader, I’m often told that I must first know myself before I can lead others. It’s a common mantra in many training programs, valuable, but not entirely true for me.

Can I truly know myself, without the reflection of others? Or do I come to know myself through the gaze of others, through the quiet feedback of nature, through being part of a ship, through immersing myself in sailing?

Leadership, too, is something you learn. And learning requires awareness, standing consciously in relationships. A leader can have unknown parts within themselves, always discovering something new. But it’s always in relation, never alone.

We sail together, with respect for each other, admiration, and awe for nature. It’s not a race. We’re not playing a finite game. We’re not escaping the world. That smartphone is still in our pocket, even at sea. But it’s the sea that calls, and you don’t even need to answer.