How do you define 'Thrive'? Leaders Speak Out.

Thrive!

Means so many different things to people.

Pretty sure you might have seen this word used everywhere from Instagram posts to a training program to multivitamin brands. There is a general feeling around this which everybody ‘gets’.

For me, it was something about growth and happiness.

Growth without stress.

Without comprising mental & physical wellbeing.

But I never really bothered to give it a definition.

Hence during my research, I started including this question in my conversations with business leaders. To help articulate it. And realized that what ‘Thrive’ meant - was highly personal & varied!

In This Issue: Perspectives on Thrive, gathered from global leaders | Reflection on your unique definition

I Am thrilled that this resonated with you. This community is of you and for you to help bring alive your definition of work-life harmony. See some of our popular past issues here.

8 Different Perspectives on THRIVE

1. Thrive is Symbiotic Growth: Everybody around you grows!

If you are achieving your dreams but people around you are struggling, it’s not particularly exciting. Plus, that impacts your ability to do your best too.

“If you are not growing, org is not growing and vice versa. So Thrive is about the growth of everything you are involved in” - CEO, Technology, India“Thriving in all directions. I am doing well, my wife is doing well, my family is thriving and people around me are thriving as well. That is really important” - CXO, Sports Apparel, India.

2. Thrive is Making An Impact

This pertains to being able to leave a legacy, despite obstacles and impact people positively. Clearly see the difference you make through your work and life.

“You are helping others and they see the value of what you do. 1/External affirmation 2/ Feeling proud of what you do 3/ having the ability to contribute to your family, friends and community.” - CHRO, Australia“Making plans and achieving them despite obstacles. Working super hard and playing super hard. Going back home exhausted on weekdays, and sleeping tired after dancing on weekends. Giving 100% of what you believe in to make an impact.” - CMO, FMCG, Vietnam

3. Thriving is Ability to be Authentic

A safe, non-judgmental environment to be who you are, helps one thrive. For ex. societal pressures to conform is quite a common cause of stress for many people I spoke to.

“Be able to say what they want and express themselves. Be who they are, wear what they want. I struggle with the social standards around toxic masculinity.” - Communications Manager, FMCG, Indonesia

4. Thrive is Empowerment

Being able to make decisions that affect your physical & mental health, wellbeing, work-life harmony.

“Feeling very empowered to make decisions, Excelling in what you are doing which are working on stretch goals, going beyond what you thought was possible. Having agency.” - Business Head, Global FMCG Organization, Singapore.“Empowered to take a call - take a week off, go at 4 on Thursday to play netball. Being able to do your non-negotiables. If you are able to do, you can thrive.” - A serial entrepreneur in B2B & B2C Space, India“Feeling independent and that you achieved what your goals were, however small, and you did it all by yourself, without help. Having clarity and recognition of your impact” - HR Leader, Australia

5. Thriving is Holistic Growth

Growing in not just one direction (for eg. financial, career), but in all important dimensions of life.

“Element of growth is there. In all areas. Family, work, finance, create for society. It’s not linear. It’s all around. Not only growing business but also growing others, growing in terms of health, hobbies, doing something else in life.” - CEO, A large Pharma Company, Singapore.“Doing well professionally. The team doing well. Time with family.” CEO, A large Retail Company, India.“Balance is being able to be there for the family at important occasions, holidays and at the same time being on top of the work.” CXO, A large FMCG Company, Thailand.

Depending on the model you prefer, there are 4-12 such dimensions. Sharing a popular one below.

Holistic Growth in 8 Areas

6. Thrive is Doing What Makes You Happy

Being able to achieve your unique blueprint of happy! :)

“What makes me happy is when I can make others happy. Even if I get a snack for someone and they like it, I love it. If they are sad, I will be sad. It’s very subjective. Everybody has certain ambitions in life. If they are able to achieve that desire, they are thriving.” - Conference Producer, India

7. Thriving is Freedom

As sometimes they say, time is the new wealth. Being able to control your time gives you the freedom which is unparelled.

“Freedom is a new lifestyle, if they achieve it they are thriving.”- CHRO, Fashion Tech Company, Thailand

8. Thrive is Courage to Choose your Purpose

A very popular all-encompassing but elusive goal for most - discovering and following their purpose.

“The sweet spot on whatever you do in your role can link back to fulfilling your purpose. Else, you are constantly searching for things that give you meaning or you are doing things that don’t give you meaning.” - CXO, FMCG Company, India“Thrive is how well you are moving towards your purpose. How well you are able to tap your potential and embrace every possibility to unlock value for others too” - EVP, FMCG, Singapore

Read: Even the best job will never love you back. So where do we find our purpose?

Ultimately, Thriving is Personal

As you may see from above, for some it is about working hard and playing hard to the point of exhaustion. For others, it is about the effortlessness of it all.

For some, it is about primarily personal growth. For others, it is about the growth of others around them.

For some, it is about contribution, for others, about living their purpose.

Then there is this other perspective on ‘Thriving in our own view vs. Thriving in other people’s eyes’ This one is quite layered and needs, like others, some unpacking.

But one thing is clear. Just like success & balance, thriving looks and feels different based on our unique life journeys.

There is no universal formula for this. But there is YOUR UNIQUE definition of this. Have you considered what is it?

What is your perspective!

Am curious to know what did you think about these definitions? Which one resonated? What did not?

What is your unique definition?

If you have not given this a thought earlier, do take a pause and reflect. Hit reply and share with me :) I look forward to reading your take on this!

There are tons of ways to thrive. There are a handful of ways in which you cannot thrive. Just look at that and then DON’T do those things.“ - Anonymous

Until next time!

Cheers, Rashmi