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In today's world, where one has to make decisions every second, what can give direction to our lives and work? Bijan Khezri's presentation on "Free Energy Governance" sought to answer this very question. The course, which straddled the boundary between business strategy and personal development, offered new perspectives on the concepts of goals, success and purpose in life, encouraging students to examine their own inner compass.
What is "deep purpose"?
In his presentation, Bijan Khezri pointed out that "deep purpose" is the basis for all decisions and actions. It is the inner motivation that determines how we define success and how we define the meaning of our lives. However, purpose is not just a philosophical issue - Khezri showed that being clear about our own motivations is critical at both the corporate and individual level. A well-functioning organisation, for example, can achieve sustainable success if its leaders and members understand why it exists and how they can collectively contribute to a greater purpose. The same is true for individuals: goals set through internal self-reflection not only empower individuals to overcome everyday challenges, but also help them to cope in a rapidly changing world.
Applying the "Free Energy Principle"
Particularly exciting was the application of the "Free Energy Principle", which Bijan Khezri placed in the context of modern leadership and self-development. This theory, originally applied in the fields of neurobiology and artificial intelligence, teaches us how to minimise the differences between our predictions and reality. Bijan Khezri stressed that making the right predictions and testing them regularly is key, whether it's making a business decision or developing life management strategies. Through self-reflection and self-improvement tools, we can reduce uncertainty, optimise the likelihood of survival and control the consequences of our own decisions.
Lessons learned at personal and company level
In the rest of the course, Khezri demonstrated how this principle can be applied at both the individual and organisational level. At a personal level, continuous self-improvement and taking on challenges helps individuals to take control of their own actions and prepare for life's unexpected life events. At the organisational level, finding a balance between innovation and traditional methods is essential for sustainable development, which involves exploiting existing resources and exploring new opportunities. The links between 'conscious dual management' and strategic decision-making, Khezri highlighted that the ability to adapt to rapid change is vital, whether it is an individual or a corporate strategy.
Students understood that successful business decision making depends not only on getting the right information, but also on how to manage uncertainty, shape our forecasts and apply strategic theory to solve real-world problems. Through case studies, students were given real-life examples of how companies have dealt with complex business challenges, what strategies they have adopted and how they have changed their operations to survive. The application of the free energy principle, self-reflection, continuous learning and adaptation can all contribute to the long-term success of individuals. The key message of the course is that, even in the unpredictability of the world, we always have the power to set the course of our own lives. But this requires deep self-awareness and a clear definition of our goals.
