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Writer's pictureJohn Hernandez

Stirring the Pot of Potential: The Alchemist's Approach to Business Leadership

Updated: Jul 9, 2023


Leadership, stirring the pot, potential,creation, innovation Photo by John Hernandez Greetings, fellow seekers, I hope you've been busy transforming your dreams into golden possibilities. Today, let's take a detour from the bubbling cauldrons and tinctures of our workplaces. to chat about something that might seem odd at first glance, considering we are speaking of Alchemy – Business Leadership. Yeah, you read that right. And you thought alchemy was just about turning base metals into gold? Well, guess again! Now, as any dedicated alchemist knows, we're not just about transmutation. At its core, alchemy is about transformation, whether that's metal, energy, or even ourselves. We're all about teasing out the hidden potential in things, seeing the unseen, and knowing the unknown. That's where the 'Tree of Life' comes into play. It's not just a beautifully mystical symbol; it's a roadmap to understanding and mastering the fundamental processes of creation and transformation both within and without. Before you roll your eyes and tell me to stick to alchemical concoctions, hear me out. The Tree of Life is a fantastic model for understanding how to be a kick-ass leader in the business world. No, really! Imagine for a moment, you're standing at the top of the Tree of Life. You're not just an alchemist now; you're a business leader, a manager, a CEO - whatever title tickles your fancy. From this vantage point, you can see all the spheres or "sephiroth" below, each representing different aspects of reality and the human experience. It's your job to navigate these, to balance the forces at work, and guide your team (or in our case, our alchemical ingredients) to a successful transformation. ( The secret to mastery however, is to ascend the Tree yourself and fully integrate its lessons before you can enroll others to follow your vision) Like a true alchemist, a business leader needs to have an imaginative vision. They need to see the potential in their team, to imagine the possibilities, and then create a reality where those possibilities become achievements. They need to transform the 'lead' of challenges and limitations into the 'gold' of success and accomplishment. It's imagination as creation, and that, my friends, is pure alchemy!

But how does one go about this, you ask?


What's the secret formula? Well, it isn't kept under lock and key in some ancient, dusty tome. It's simpler than that. It comes down to three key ingredients: 1. Empathy: 2. Vision: 3. Courage:

4. Ingenuity

5. Emotional Intelligence

6. Foundation

7.Groundedness

8.Wisdom

9. Setting it all down…

10. Essence and Purpose



Placing all of these into your own alchemical furnace to reveal the leader who you are!

So, there you have it – the alchemical approach to business leadership. It may not be traditional, but then again since when were we alchemists ever traditional? Remember, it's all about seeing the unseen, knowing the unknown, and teasing out the hidden potential. The Tree of Life isn't just a symbol for us; it's a blueprint for transformation in all areas of life, business included. So, grab your alembic, your vision, and your courage, and let's get creating! Until next time, keep the alchemy alive!

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