Athena 12 - I Learned So Much Today

Friday, early evening.

Athena stands at the window.

Deep in thought.

She has just met
with her senior team.

Mary, Sarah, and Peter.

She realizes
she learned so much today.

New ways are opening up.

New paths to discover.

…

It rained hard this morning.

Storm clouds rushed
across the sky.

And now the sun
is setting beautifully.

Athena watches.

Nature seems to reflect
her own change of mood.

She feels at peace.

…

They met at 4:00 pm.

There was one question
on the agenda:

“Why do I work here?”

When Athena entered
the meeting room,

she felt tension in the air.

Mary, Sarah, and Peter
were wondering

how this conversation would go.

…

Athena looked at them.

“Let me start.

Last Monday, I said
I want us to work together.

And that I need your help.

Mary then spoke about HOPE_A.

She sent you the links
to read.

Together, we began to see
that we could work differently.

We could start with the results
we want to create

and work backwards.

And then a question came up:

Why do I work here?

Today, we begin
to talk about that.

I hope that, over time,

each of us will feel
more comfortable

sharing our own Why.

And what we hope
to create here.”

…

Athena continued.

“I started this company
five years ago.

From an early age,

I wanted to have
my own business.

After my banking career,

consulting seemed
the logical step.

Now I see that we can
create an impact

in education as well.

I can imagine it becoming
our main pillar.

Helping people
make choices for themselves.”

Athena felt her enthusiasm rise.

She looked around the table.

The others were listening.

…

Peter spoke next.

“My needs are very basic.

I work because I have
a family to take care of.

I like being here.

But my Why is simple.

And hard at the same time.”

Athena appreciated
Peter’s honesty.

She thanked him.

…

Then Sarah spoke.

“My reason for working
is simple too.

I need to like what I do.

I need to feel
that I am growing.”

Mary followed.

“I am always looking
to broaden my horizons.

To learn.

To gain experience.

That is why
I work here, Athena.

Ah…

and I do like
working with you.”

She gave Athena a broad smile.

Everyone laughed.

…

Athena looked at the three of them.

She took a deep breath.

“Thank you.

For your openness.

And your clarity.”

She paused.

“I will remember
this meeting

as the start
of something new.

A journey we will create
together.”

…

“Earlier this week,

Mary said we could
turn the world upside down.

I now realize
we may do that

in more ways than one.

We can create more
and better together.

But for that to happen,

we need a different
starting point.

Not the organization first.

The people.

Our lives.

Our different Whys.”

…

Athena looked at each of them.

“I would like each of you
to feel that being here

makes sense in your life.

That the work we create together
also helps you move towards

what matters to you.

Life first.

Then organization.”

…

“That means a very different
kind of dialogue,”

Peter said.

He looked thoughtful.

Sarah and Mary nodded.

…

Athena smiled.

“Indeed.

A different dialogue.

A different way
of being here.

And a reason for being here
that is different

for each of us.

I think that is good.

On Monday morning,

we start a new week.

A different one.

Okay?”

Everyone smiled.

They stayed a little longer,

talking together

before leaving
for the weekend.

…

Now Athena stands
at her office window.

The sunset fills the sky.

She thinks about
what each person shared.

Each has a reason
of their own.

Life first.

Then organization.

Athena smiles.

“I learned so much today.”

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