The transition from adolescence to adulthood is a crucial phase in every individual’s life. It’s a time filled with hope and possibilities for a successful future. Your actions and decisions at this stage set the trajectory for the rest of your life.
But for Refael (aka Rafi) Edry, life as a young adult was filled with more obstacles than opportunities. Born and raised in Safed, he had a modest upbringing with his younger brothers, Eyal Edry and Moshe Edree.
A Story of Turning Life Around
The three brothers grew up listening to stories of their fearless uncle whose name Refael Edry shares. Refael Edry z|l (the uncle) was a valiant war hero whose contribution to Israel’s War of Independence continues to influence the country’s youth.
Refael Edry (the nephew) and his brothers drew inspiration from how their uncle single-handedly fought enemy forces and even hoisted the Israeli flag amidst an incendiary fire. These stories have helped them put a spin on every curveball life has thrown at them.
When he had barely stepped into adulthood, Refael Edry realized that his father’s earnings weren’t enough to support the family. He started working to help his family overcome financial struggles. That meant he had to make the difficult decision of putting a pause on his dream of building a better life. His brothers followed suit.
But economic hardships and other setbacks didn’t stop Refael Edry. He worked hard to pursue higher education and build a respectable career. Decades later, the world knows him as one of Israel’s most accomplished businessmen. Today, he runs several thriving companies in Africa and Israel with his brothers.
His sheer determination and grit make Refael Edry an inspiration for every entrepreneur struggling to build or grow their company. As a business leader, here are a few of Refael Edry’s traits you must develop:
Humility
Despite being a successful business owner, Refael Edry continues to refuse a life of material comfort. Instead, he strives to stay true to his roots and uphold his uncle’s legacy as a war hero. That’s what prompted him and his brothers to start the Ahinoam Association for the Promotion of Equal Opportunities.
Under the leadership of philanthropist Refael Edry, the non-profit organization runs various initiatives to help underprivileged children in Israel. The volunteers mentor at-risk youth from the country’s periphery and provide financial aid to students from low-income families. They even run a program to support the Ethiopian Jewish community in Israel.
Every initiative highlights Refael Edry’s unflinching determination to create an equal world. He still remembers the agony and hopelessness he faced as a teenager and doesn’t want other children to go through the same.
It’s the kind of humility that every business leader should imbibe. When your company has a few good years, it’s easy to become complacent. But if you let that success get to your head, it’ll limit your growth potential. Worse still, it’ll influence you to make decisions without focusing on the bigger picture.
That makes it crucial for business leaders to stay humble. Remember where you came from and the challenges you overcame to grow your business. Also, keep revisiting your original idea and vision behind starting the company.
Foresight
The pandemic ushered in a wave of uncertainty worldwide. But for more than 400,000 students in Israel, 2020 felt like an abrupt end to their dreams. Their schools had switched to online classes without realizing that thousands of students don’t own personal computers or have internet access at home.
Refael Edry couldn’t stand the thought of letting these children suffer due to the authorities’ apathy. Moreover, he understood that if these children give up on their education now, it’ll take a toll on Israel’s social integrity in the future.
Evaluating the long-term repercussions of the situation compelled Refael Edry to start a fundraising campaign. They collected donations from the public and provided computers to more than 30,000 children.
The initiative helped these children pursue their education and reignited their hope for a brighter future. Also, it restored their faith in their fellow citizens, thus protecting Israel’s social fabric and resilience.
Similarly, as a business leader, you should have the power to predict the long-term consequences of every action and decision. It’s crucial if you want to adapt to fast-evolving market trends and maintain business continuity despite pandemics, wars, and recessions.
Empathy
The way Refael Edry works for the upliftment of Israel’s children and youth is a lesson in the power of empathy. It’s the kind of empathy every entrepreneur needs to take their business to greater heights.
Empathize with your customers to understand what drives them to make a purchase. Identify the challenges they face before, during, and after a purchase, and use those insights to improve customer experience.
It’s just as crucial to empathize with key stakeholders, including employees, partners, vendors, and investors. Put yourself in their shoes to identify their unique challenges and devise ways to address them.
In Conclusion
Humility, foresight, and empathy are some of the most crucial attributes every business leader needs. Refael Edry has demonstrated the power of these qualities through his tumultuous journey and welfare initiatives. If you want your company to reach the epitome of success, make sure you imbibe these qualities, too.
