Not Tired, Not Retired

Welcome to the 134th edition of “In Touch”. As always, I would love to continue the conversation so please hit reply and let me know what you think.

Story of the Week: “Not Tired, Not Retired”

When I met Varnavas Varnava six days ago, I knew that he was a very successful businessman. But, as we were walking together inside his Vitaplast factory, I couldn’t help thinking something else about him. Compared to everything else that he has built around the world, this factory in Cyprus felt very small. Knowing the scale of his operations abroad, I asked him directly: “Why do you still need this?”

“To keep innovating,” he answered immediately, as if the answer was obvious.

I realised we were having two different conversations. I was thinking about business. He was speaking about fulfilment.

He then started showing me around the factory, not really as an owner but as a creator. Each machine, each improvement, each process he explained with genuine interest and knowledge. He knew what everything did and, more importantly, what problem it solved for the end user. At one point he showed me a mobile fire-fighting unit that can be assembled without tools. For him, as a Greek Cypriot who has seen the damage that recent wildfires have done to the island, this was not just another product. I understood that I wasn’t so much being given a tour of his business as I was being introduced to the things he cared about.

Later, during the workshop I ran for his team, he spoke about teamwork and the importance of moving faster than before. His four daughters and one of his sons-in-law were also there. He also referred to the specific targets that he has set for all his companies. At 76, he does not watch his organisation from a distance. He remains an active participant and, as if to underline his continuing role, he kept repeating that he is “not tired, not retired.”

I didn’t leave thinking about Varnava’s wealth or the size of his companies. I left thinking about a person who still feels responsible for improving things.

Words of Wisdom

“Age is only a number... A man can’t retire his experience. He must use it.” Bernard Baruch

A Question to Ponder, dear friend.

What still makes you want to wake up and create?