Every month, founder of Elements Retirement Chiou See Anderson speaks with a resident to explore the facets of Ikigai, a lifestyle that helps balance the physical with the spiritual.
Today, she speaks with Robin Kleinschmidt.
CSA: How old are you and how old do you feel?
RK: Chronologically I am 84 years old. Like many, my mind feels much younger than my birth certificate tells me.
CSA: You’ve had an illustrious career as Headmaster of Redeemer Lutheran College. A position which requires you wear many hats. What strategies did you deploy to stay focussed when juggling responsibilities?
RK: We all play multiple roles in our daily lives – spouse, parent, grandparent, neighbour, employer, employee, customer, or client. As Headmaster I was very aware of the competing needs and interests of the many groups to whom and for, I was responsible.
I tried to maintain a focus on one thing with two parts. I was responsible for the administration of a Christian school. Education, teaching and learning, was the reason for its existence, and had to be done as well as possible. Secondly, it was by definition a Christian school. Consequently, whatever was done in its name had to be consonant with Christian teachings. These were the two principal benchmarks against which all decisions, all plans were measured.
CSA: The ability to stay focused requires maintaining flow, in thought or action. How would you advise someone who feels unable “to maintain the course”?
RK: Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Successful People provides some helpful clues to perseverance. The first habit is to concentrate on what you can control or influence. You cannot do everything well. Work with your strengths and delegate what you cannot do well.
The second, begin with the end in mind. Have a vision, a long-term goal, and do not lose sight of it, even though there will be mountains of seemingly unrelated trivia to deal with along the way. Pursuit of the vision can prevent being wearied and distracted by the routine activity which is necessary to achieve the vision.
As founding Headmaster at Redeemer College, a primary task was to create the vision and help others share it. The third habit is to put first things first. Know what is essential, and ensure it is done. Everything else has to be done, but must not obscure the ultimate vision. This may sound rather grand. It was simply the framework within which all else was done at Redeemer College.
CSA: You are still highly active post retirement. Can you share what projects you are working on, and do they provide you with the purpose and structure to keep your focus?
RK: I have just completed a commission to write the 40th anniversary history of a Lutheran college on the Gold Coast. I serve on the editorial team for the Bulletin of the Order of St John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller, and on its Archives Committee. I am Chairman of Friends of Lutheran Archives Queensland, and in my local congregation I conduct the church choir. J need focus to carry out these roles, and they give me great satisfaction, but focus facilitates the tasks. It is not generated by them. My purpose is to give service according to my ability, not just to be busy or active.
CSA: What advice would you give to your 15-year-old self?
RK: The world is a bigger and more interesting place than you can imagine. Grasp every opportunity it offers you. And stay close to your family and your God.
