Master's thesis abstract

The aim of the master’s thesis was to research the psychological principles of success in Slovenian business and politics. I set out to explore parallels between philosophical insights in the Graeco-Roman and oriental traditions, the perspectives of contemporary science and the views of leading members of Slovenia’s business and political elite, and identify the psychological principles of success in business, politics and life that are independent of period, context and location if there exist any. My hypothesis was that if universal psychological laws of success exist, a congruence between the views of participants, experts and the philosophers of the ancient and oriental worlds would automatically emerge from the data. Qualitative analysis of 21 semi-structured interviews with CEOS and management board members, politicians and business owners showed that participants’ answers were congruent both with modern literature on leadership and with the views of ancient emperors and East Asian philosophers on the timeless psychological laws of success in business and politics. These include setting priorities for oneself, the ability to organise one’s time and sacrifice certain aspects of life, decisiveness and the ability to accept responsibility for one’s decisions, self-belief, high levels of optimism, mental and physical endurance, the ability to reflect and have an awareness of oneself, of context and of others, a multifaceted understanding of success, charisma, vision, flexibility, perseverance, emotional intelligence, awareness of the transience of power, position and status, a sense for people and situations, the ability to admit and correct mistakes, a high tolerance for uncertainty, clear-headed crisis responses, openness to serendipity, passion, managing emotional highs and lows, avoidance of euphoria, possession of high levels of energy and the ability to direct energy towards long-term goals and pass it on to the team. Participants also highlight the importance of knowing one’s own limits and oneself, knowing one’s strengths and weaknesses, wearing the appropriate mask, striving for lifelong learning and development, authenticity, the ability to switch off, the ability to stay normal, courage, ambition, serendipity, destiny, manifesting, passion, momentum, being in tune with the zeitgeist, love of risks and adrenaline and the ability to maintain one’s own moral compass. I see the principal contribution of the master’s thesis in the creation of a thousand-page collection of in-depth insights and reflections from Slovenian business and political leaders on breaking through and staying on top, already accessible in the Social Science Data Archives (ADP) and shortly to be available in the commemorative publication The Dark and the Light Side of ‘Ruling the World’ and a collection of insights entitled Anora, as well as in the formulation of a VIZI model, based on the findings of the work, that could potentially serve as a basis and an alternative to less standardised and empirically and scientifically supported processes for selecting potential multimillion dollar companies’ founders in Slovenian venture capital firms. 

Keywords: leadership, economics, politics, success, passion, serendipity.