Editorial

Dear Reader
“Rethinking Life – of meaning, time and ideals” is more than just an invitation to reflect. This book was born out of an entrepreneurial mindset that has defined Festo for over 100 years: a willingness to pose fundamental questions time and again of why the company exists, what its mission is, and how it hopes to benefit the future. 

A pioneering spirit is about seeing what everyone else has seen, and entertaining thoughts that no one else has yet conceived. Progress is seldom achieved through radical approaches alone. It frequently occurs when we view familiar things in a new light, recognise interrelationships and possess the courage to develop new ideas from them.

For me, this reflects an ethos that has always been the defining force at Festo: bringing people, ideas and technologies together, particularly across different industries, identifying new interrelationships and creating added value and innovation from this synergy – for the benefit of society as a whole. 

The fact that Festo has been able to exist as a family-run business for over a century is no coincidence. It is also the consequence of actively engaging with issues of meaning, responsibility and sustainability, or what is often described today as purpose. These questions were not treated in the abstract but, instead, were repeatedly revisited, discussed and, in collaboration with its employees, translated into measures for advancing the company and allowing it to evolve.

This is of fundamental importance, particularly for family-owned enterprises. Businesses that wish to survive without interruption must respond to the changes of their time, whether technological transition, new employment models, societal shifts, the potential offered by artificial intelligence, or the demands imposed by education, culture and communication. The future does not come about of its own accord. Rather, it takes shape where shareholders and leaders are prepared to confront critical questions, embrace different perspectives, and derive clear implications from these for their thought processes, actions and strategy.

This conviction is the inspiration behind this book. Drawing on a variety of expert viewpoints, the authors explore the times in which we are living, the developments that are influencing us, and the new avenues for thought and action that are opening up as a result. They address questions that transcend individual disciplines and invite us to take a fresh look at the familiar, to reflect seriously on the unknown, and to play a conscious role in helping to shape the future.

This book is aimed at people who shoulder responsibility – in enterprises, particularly family-owned businesses, and in society. It is intended not only to encourage reflection, but also to provide fresh impetus, broaden horizons and encourage readers to scrutinise and refine their own actions. For only by confronting fundamental questions can one rethink life and proactively shape the future.

I would like to thank everyone involved for their valuable contribution to this work. Those who engage wholeheartedly with meaning, time and ideals generate endless opportunities for innovation and change. I truly hope this book will accompany, challenge and inspire you on your journey ahead.