News & Insights

The start of the year is a good time to stop and reflect on priorities and what is important to you. There is often a resolve to spend less time on the urgent and more time on things that really matter.

To help you consider how best to live in a way that is more aligned to your real priorities, we offer this transcript of a talk by John Morrow, Head of Philanthropic Services, to a retreat in Queenstown late last year.

The talk was titled: Reflections on living a life-well-lived and legacy. It was addressed to mid-career chief executives of privately owned businesses and their partners who are seeking to make a positive difference now.

Some of the talking points in the transcript:

• The powerful motivator in our life is not money, rather it’s the opportunity to learn, grow in responsibilities, contribute to others and be recognised for achievements.

• There is a positive relationship between money and happiness, at every wealth level - but there are two principles relating to how you make it and how you spend it that strengthen the link between money and happiness with those with wealth. These two principles relate to wealth earned, rather than inherited, and spending wealth on others and philanthropy.

• Traditionally there has been a shift from self-focus to making a difference in the second half of life, but the next generations are thinking about purpose sooner, and doing more significant work that matters while building their early-to-mid careers. 

• The opportunity to create a ripple effect early is about finding purpose and aligning your skills and resources to where your "deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."

• A discussion on how then, do you make an impact over and above traditional philanthropy? Moving from success to significance - in the best years of your life and not your very last years. By way of personal impact, family impact, business impact, and financial impact.

• Introduces Jay Hughes' five capitals framework for family flourishing: human, intellectual, social, spiritual, and financial.

• Discusses the importance of family in building a legacy and the role of philanthropy in shaping family values.

• Expands on the growing trend of businesses integrating social good into their models through active consideration of material environmental, social and governance risks, and sustainable impact investing.

• Discusses responsible investment and decarbonisation as examples of aligning investments with values for positive impact.

We hope this aids reflection and offers further insight into a life well lived, shaped by deliberate, thoughtful, and collaborative choices in service to family and the community.

At JBWere a core part of our Philanthropic Services is to support our clients in the creation of lasting and positive philanthropic impact.

Whilst we often have the privilege of walking alongside individuals and families from the beginning of their giving journey, many are already actively giving and come to us when they are not sure if their giving is having the impact they are looking for. 

Encouraging our clients to give better in partnership with the community, and to give with greater satisfaction is integral to our work.

When we work with an individual or a couple, we explore and evaluate the question: “What does the journey of a good life look like for them?” and the two key considerations are centred around motivation and aspiration:

1. What motivates you to do something in the for-purpose and philanthropic space?

2. What do you want to achieve in life for the benefit of others?

A transcript of the talk by John Morrow, Head of Philanthropic Services, is available here.