A Leadership Reflection from the Kalahari
Over the past week, I had the privilege of visiting my eldest son, who is currently working as a student on a remote game farm in the Kalahari, South Africa. The time we spent together reminded me—deeply—of the importance of knowing why we do what we do.
Whether you lead a family, a small team in a large organisation, a growing startup with just one or two employees, or a full-blown business unit as a CEO, COO, or departmental head, it doesn’t matter. At some point, something will happen that puts pressure on you or your team.
It might be a sudden market shift.
It could be a new competition.
It may be economic uncertainty, leadership changes, or decisions made far beyond your control—sometimes even outside your company or family.
When pressure comes, what determines whether we bend or break often comes down to a few critical factors:
1. The level of trust between the people making decisions and those who have to carry them out.
2. A clear, personal answer to the question: Why am I doing this?
3. And sometimes softer, less obvious things—like a sense of belonging, or the quiet inner confidence that one’s efforts matter.
The Army, the Kalahari, and the Why
When I left school, South Africa was still involved in a war on our northern borders. Like all white South African boys at the time, I was called up for two years of military service.
Many of us hated large parts of that experience, but one thing we all had in common was this: we had to grow up fast. Looking back, we now understand that there were many flaws in the ideological foundation of that war, but that’s not the point of this article. The fact remains: we were given a reason. We had a why. It helped us endure. It helped us mature.
And as I watched my son over the past few months, I realised—he was going through his own version of that “army” experience.
Years after my days in uniform, I saw him pack everything he owned into a 2002 Citi Golf and set off on a solo journey of over 1,200 kilometers—leaving the safety and predictability of home behind to pursue his dream of becoming a game farmer.
He didn’t know the people waiting for him. He’d never driven that far. He had to manage a home on his own, work long hours in a tough environment, and figure out how to navigate a professional relationship with the farmer who, while well-meaning, lacked the mentoring skills my son desperately needed.
We had many video calls and many conversations. Some of them were tough. He was still within his three-month probation period. There were no guarantees.
But during our visit, I had the chance to sit next to him in the cab of the farm’s Land Cruiser as he went about his daily duties. As we spoke about the challenges he’d faced, he turned to me and said words that made ALL the difference:
“This is what I was made for. This is what I want to do. I will never get tired of doing this.”
That was it. The Why. It was alive in him.
And in that moment, I was reminded of a truth that many leaders overlook: when people know their why, they will find the strength to endure even the hardest seasons.
Why Leads to Endurance
In Man’s Search for Meaning—Viktor Frankl’s book based on his experience in Nazi concentration camps—he wrote that those who survived weren’t necessarily the strongest or healthiest. They were the ones who had a reason to live. A purpose beyond their suffering. A why, often on the other side of the fence.
As leaders—whether at home or in the workplace—we must be intentional about helping those we lead to connect to a compelling “why.”
Start by helping them explore where they are going, personally. What do they care about? What are they uniquely good at? What gives them a sense of purpose or fulfilment?
If they don’t know yet, help them reflect and decide. Guide them toward a personal goal or meaningful destination. Once that’s clear, you as the leader can tie their personal goals to the goals of your organisation, team, or mission.
You create alignment.
You help them make sense of the hard work.
You give their effort a reason to exist.
Ask them:
– Why are you here?
– Where are you going?
– How will you know when you’ve arrived?
When a person’s “why” is connected to their daily responsibilities, energy and resilience increase. Attitude shifts. Accountability deepens. And even in difficult seasons, there’s a well of motivation they can draw from.
Final Thought
My son still has a lot to learn. The road ahead of him will not be easy. But because he knows why he’s doing it, he has something many employees, team members, and even leaders are missing: clarity, resolve, and inner drive.
Let’s help those we lead find the same.
Stefan Lessing
Want to help your team find clarity and inner drive? Click here and let’s start with your leadership why.
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