Nature Within Us

​ Some people are born into opportunity Others are born into obligation. One child enters a world of stable income, quality schools, inherited business networks, and a passport that opens doors across continents. Another arrives in a place where education is distant, healthcare is fragile, and survival itself becomes the first full-time job. Long before either of them learns to speak, their life paths have already begun to diverge. This is what many scholars call the birth lottery — the simple but uncomfortable truth that a large portion of our life outcomes is shaped by factors we did not choose and did nothing to earn: the country we are born in the wealth or poverty of our parents whether our community is peaceful or conflict-affected access to education and healthcare legal systems that determine inheritance or marriage norms language, social networks, and even early childhood nutrition These are not rewards for effort. They are starting conditions. And yet, when we loo...

​ In many Rwandan workplaces, the office is more than a place of employment—it is a shared life space. We share stories, advice, struggles, laughter, and sometimes even personal burdens. We build strong relationships. We learn to read each other’s emotions. Our culture emphasizes unity, care, and togetherness. When things are going well, this system feels powerful and human. But this same strength can quietly become a weakness. When Relationships Replace Responsibility Because of the bonds we create at work, small mistakes are often ignored or tolerated. Colleagues coach each other informally, cover for one another, or delay tough conversations in the name of harmony. Over time, this turns into a pattern—poor performance is normalized, and accountability weakens. This is not kindness; it is a leadership failure. True leadership is not about protecting comfort. It is about protecting standards. When individuals develop lazy attitudes or consistently underperform, but the team ke...

​ Introduction: The Search for a Meaningful Life At some point, many people begin asking deeper questions about their lives: Why am I here? Am I using my abilities well? Is my work connected to what truly matters to me? What kind of contribution do I want to make? What would make my life feel meaningful rather than merely busy? How can I balance ambition, family, health, service and happiness? These questions often become stronger during a transition: changing careers, becoming a parent, starting a business, experiencing loss, reaching a major milestone or realizing that professional success alone does not guarantee fulfilment. Two books offer valuable guidance for people facing these questions: Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, and Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles. Although the books approach purpose differently, their messages complement each other. Desi...