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In this solo reflection, Zoë Routh explores leadership and what it means to live a life well lived, inspired by This One Wild and Precious Life by Sarah Wilson and Mary Oliver’s The Summer Day.
Against a backdrop of ecological, political, and personal uncertainty, Zoe reflects on languishing, disconnection, and the chrysalis moments of change. Drawing on minimalist living, nature, art, spirituality, and everyday activism, she invites leaders to slow down, pay attention, and ask what truly enlarges their lives.
Ultimately, this episode asks a simple but profound question:
What will you do with your one wild and precious life? (Thank you Mary Oliver).
Summary
Zoë shares personal updates:
Languishing & the Chrysalis – Why so many leaders feel stuck, disconnected, or “in-between,” and how this phase may be a necessary stage of transformation.
Leadership Beyond Productivity – Moving from doing and achieving toward meaning, attention, and presence as leadership capacities.
Minimalism as a Leadership Practice – How simplifying life, consumption, and choices can create clarity, freedom, and focus.
Practice Is the Path – Why there is no single roadmap forward, only daily practices that reconnect us to what matters.
A Life Well Lived – Reframing success away from “doing it right” and toward living in alignment with values, contribution, and care.
Thought-Provoking Questions for Leaders, focusing on:
What does a life well lived mean for me, at this stage of my leadership journey?
Where might I be languishing — and what could be quietly emerging beneath it?
Does this choice enlarge my life, or diminish it?
What is time well spent, really?
Am I trying to do life “right,” or am I paying attention to what matters most?
Key Quotes
“Practice is the path. You don’t need to know where it leads, only that you can take the next step.” - Zoë Routh
“What makes a life worth living will be different for each of us.” - Zoë Routh
“The question isn’t ‘Am I doing this right?’ but ‘Does this choice enlarge or diminish my life?’” - Quoted in Sarah Wilson's book, This One Wild and Precious Life
Questions Explored
What does a life well lived mean for me at this stage of my leadership journey?
Where am I languishing and what might be quietly emerging beneath it?
What is time well spent, really?
Which of my daily choices enlarge my life, and which diminish it?
What practices help me feel more connected, to myself, others, and the world?
Take Action
Choose one simple practice this week, walking, journaling, reading poetry, or time in nature and treat it as leadership work.
Use the filter “Does this enlarge or diminish?” when making decisions, big or small.
Reduce one form of excess, consumption, noise, or obligation and notice what space it creates.
Key Moments
00:00 Welcome to the Future of Leadership
00:40 Settling into a New Home
01:17 Reflecting on Sarah Wilson's Book
02:24 Mary Oliver's Poem: The Summer Day
03:59 Understanding the Book's Themes
06:38 Sarah Wilson's Background and Philosophy
07:52 Minimalism and Practical Tips
09:53 The Concept of Languishing
10:45 Steps to Happiness and Personal Growth
17:15 The Importance of Art and Spirituality
24:45 Final Reflections and Personal Insights
32:47 Conclusion and Call to Action
Related episodes on Future Trends
43 Leadership expert Zoë Routh on how to build empathy and influence into your leadership skillset
172 The importance of empathy in leadership with Sharon Tuffin
223 Author and entrepreneur Paul Hargreaves’ leadership principles for purpose before profit
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About Zoë Routh
Zoë Routh is a leadership futurist, podcaster, and multiple award-winning author. She works with leaders and teams to navigate future horizons.
She has worked with individuals and teams internationally and in Australia since 1987. From wild Canadian rivers to the Australian Outback, and the Boardroom jungles, Zoë is an adventurist! She facilitates strategy and culture sessions with audacious teams.
Zoë's fourth leadership book, People Stuff - Beyond Personality Problems: An advanced handbook for leadership, won the Book of the Year at the Australian Business Book Awards in 2020. Her fifth book is a near future science fiction dystopian novel, The Olympus Project.
Zoë is the producer of the The Future of Leadership Podcast dedicated to asking “What if…?” and sharing Big Ideas on the Future of Leadership.
Zoë is an outdoor adventurist and enjoys telemark skiing, has run six marathons, is a one-time belly-dancer, has survived cancer, and loves hiking in the high country. She is married to a gorgeous Aussie and is a self-confessed dark chocolate addict.