Callosom Insights
Nr. 9 Rethinking Success: Why Meaning Comes First
After nearly three decades of working in and with organizations, I’ve come to realize that the real driver of resilience isn’t strategy, efficiency, or even leadership in the traditional sense. It’s meaning. Not the abstract search for a higher life purpose, but the very real question: What gives meaning to this moment, in this situation?
Throughout my career, I’ve seen countless professionals chase external markers of success—titles, achievements, and financial rewards—only to find themselves feeling disconnected or unfulfilled. I’ve been there myself. What I’ve learned is that real fulfillment comes not from reaching some distant goal but from making conscious choices in the present, accepting their consequences, and taking responsibility for how we navigate them.
Organizations often speak about agility and adaptability, but true resilience isn’t about reacting faster—it’s about giving people the space to reflect, take ownership, and continuously redefine their relationship with change. When meaning and well-being take center stage, success and happiness become natural byproducts, not elusive targets.
This perspective shapes my work at Callosom. I believe that by integrating meaning into how we work and lead, we create organizations where people don’t just perform but thrive. The question isn’t what should I achieve?, but what makes sense right now? When we start there, everything else follows.
What gives meaning to your work today?
Meaningful! (pun intended) Yet, this will require someone to accept who they are and act according to it, without all the external and internal censorship that is constantly going on. Challenging, daring, but very rewarding indeed.