Christian Busch
on the Serendipity Mindset
It's easy to believe that the big opportunities in our lives happen by chance and we have no control over them. Others are simply luckier than the rest of us. Or maybe they just keep their eyes wide open?
Christian Busch has the answer:
S E R E N D I P I T Y
It is not just luck or simple randomness.
It is seeing.
Seeing the links that others don’t, blending them in unexpected or creative ways, and learning how to merge these ideas to form new pathways.
It is active luck, the one you create for yourself when you infuse meaning into the unexpected. Engagement that seeds conversation and builds connections.
I discovered Christian through John Elkington’s “Meet the Regenerators”, as part of the Green Swans Observatory. It was serendipity in motion: I liked the conversation, I researched about him and instantly ordered his book. And you are reading this now.
Christian Busch is the director of the CGA Global Economy program at New York University, a Visiting Fellow at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and the co-founder of Leaders on Purpose.
His favourite thing has always been connecting people, and serendipity popped up everywhere: he wanted to learn and write about it. That’s how he became the author of The Serendipity Mindset, a book that has been highlighted as a “bracing and hopeful antidote to a world addicted to efficiency and control” by Daniel Pink.
“We are held back by our deep, underlying fears of rejection or being the imposter. Understanding ourselves better can really help us see when, and where, we may have denied ourselves serendipity. You could have bumped into an inspirational person at a conference and didn’t spark up a conversation. Just start a discussion and you can discover that this person becomes the love of your life, your co-founder, or a great friend. Our reaction to unexpected moments can determine what happens in the future.”
What might seem like a tough situation can often become an inflexion point for something more exciting: “Think about your relationships that looked like the end of happiness, but enabled you to find the person with whom you could be truly happy."
Invite serendipity into your life and connect the dots: “The more dots we give the other to join us, the better things can happen.”
Once you understand serendipity, you become its curator. You increase innovation, regeneration, creativity and opportunity in every aspect of your life. You turn it into a force that you can grasp, shape, and enjoy.
Constantly train your serendipity muscles to connect the dots!
Thank you, Christian, for being a Serendipity Ambassador!
#INSPIRATORS QUESTIONNAIRE
Name: Christian Busch
Company / Institution: New York University & London School of Economics
Title: Author, The Serendipity Mindset
Website: www.theserendipitymindset.com
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianwbusch/
Country of origin: Germany
Country you currently live in: USA
Your personal definition of Regeneration: Placing life at the centre of our actions and focusing on long-term thinking, energizing, and renewing.
Main business challenge you face: Sharing the serendipity mindset far and wide.
Main driver that keeps you going: I’ve seen a serendipity mindset be a beautiful way for people to turn uncertainty from a threat into a source of meaning, joy, and success – and I’d love to bring it to as many people as I can.
The trait you are most proud of in yourself: Curiosity.
The trait you most value in others: Humility.
Passions & little things that bring you joy: Connecting people and ideas; watching my toddler try to steal the crisps from the counter; watching movies with my wife.
The #inspirators who determined you to take the regenerative path:
I’ve been very inspired by John Elkington and Marlon Parker.
A hint or starting point for companies or professionals that are taking the first steps in the regeneration journey: Map things out and get started, but be open to the unexpected – most environmental and societal issues are complex, so solutions will often emerge unexpectedly.
Most used and abused clichés about sustainability that bother you: That it is a trade-off re:profit – many extremely successful individuals and companies have become more innovative and profitable when they are forced to think sustainably; doing both is not only possible, but it’s crucial.
An honest piece of advice for young people who lose hope: As the old adage goes, if you want a happy ending, you can’t stop the story too early. Often, tough moments in life become inflexion points towards meaningful things in the future.
Books that had a major impact on you: Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning.
Must-reads for any Regenerative professional: Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning.
Movies / Documentaries you would watch all over again: Fleabag.
Blogs / Websites / Podcasts etc. you visit frequently: www.nytimes.com
Music that makes you (and your heart) sing: Baby Shark doo doo doo!
Places you travelled to that left a mark on you: Cape Flats in Cape Town: www.rlabs.org inspired me how to make the best out of what is at hand.
Global Regenerative Voices you recommend us to follow:
John Elkington
Renee and Marlon Parker
Trends in Regeneration we should keep an eye on: Mindset is as important as structures and processes!
Best places for business networking (online or offline): Interest-based communities.
Events we should attend: Skoll World Forum, TEDx.
Associations, business clubs, tribes you belong to – and why:
Thinkers50: interesting ideas;
BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders: great group of innovators.
Sustainable Development or Regeneration courses, trainings, or certifications that really teach us how to have an impact:
LSE Marshall Institute courses;
Oxford Skoll Centre courses.
Reasons to feel optimistic about our future in 2030: There’s a new generation emerging that is fed up with how the world has been running on old men’s old ideas – and there’s much energy that just needs to be channelled.
Reasons to feel pessimistic about our future in 2030: We might not have as much time as we think – individually and collectively.
Regenerative Leadership qualities much needed today: Humility, curiosity, collaborative spirit – and a serendipity mindset!
Quote that inspires you:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Because indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
(Margaret Mead)
Your own quote that will inspire us:
