What will you have accomplished by the time you are 75?

WorkLife eMag – December 2019 Issue

Workplace Mental Health Institute

Gert Olefs with Peter Diaz

Gert Olefs

Man on a Mission

Author: Peter Diaz

What will you have accomplished by the time you are 75? What kind of world will you leave behind?

See, most people don’t think like this. They are living ‘just to make ends meet’ or working ‘to pay the mortgage’. If they have a vision for their future it goes something like ‘to retire and have enough income for the years left to live’ or simply ‘to survive 2020’. That’s what most ‘normal’ people do. But Gert Olefs is no normal human being. Don’t get me wrong, in most senses he’s just like you and me. But Gert Olefs is a man with a global mission.

Gert Olefs has the vision to end all wars. Yes, you heard right - ALL wars. And he needs our help because he has the goal to achieve this by 2035!

Gert Olefs was born and raised in Brussels, the capital of Belgium

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and of the European Union. He grew up in the shadows of the European Institutions there. War and peace have fascinated him since his early boyhood. After obtaining a Masters’ degree in Bioscience Engineering in 1984 and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration he started a 20 year corporate career. He travelled to all the continents of the world and lived in Asia and the Middle-East from 1990 - 2003. Just before the invasion of Iraq in early 2003 he returned to Belgium from Saudi Arabia. He then started his own HR consulting company and became a coach. And in the next 20 years he will also dedicate himself to helping the world achieve World Peace by 2035.

War has been humanity’s constant companion. But does it have to be? Gert doesn’t believe it needs to be. I interviewed Gert Olefs recently to find out what drives him, is he sane, does he

have a plan and how is this all happening? So many questions!

Here’s some of the things I found out: Gert Olefs is not crazy. In fact, he’s highly articulate, rational, and committed. A man with great education.

• Gert is a published author and his book ‘World Peace 2035: Let’s Achieve it Together’ sets down his philosophy’s approach to achieving world peace

• He’s the founder, and funder, of the international movement ‘World Peace 2035’

• He’s met with world leaders on this and he needs our help

Gert feels that ‘You and I have no merit whatsoever for having been born in a peaceful part of the world full of opportunities. We were just incredibly lucky!’ And he asks quite poignant questions like ‘Can you afford to stay passive? Can your children

and grandchildren be victims of yours and my passivity? Is this who we really are? Is this who we really want to be?’ ‘Our world leaders do not make peace a priority. Therefore we, the citizens of the world, will have to take the initiative. Let’s make our world a peaceful one for the first time in history. Let us make peace so that all the other pressing problems of humanity can be addressed from that foundation of peace. Our survival depends on it.’

‘Peace is neither left nor right, neither black nor white. Peace is neither democracy nor autocracy. Peace is neither liberal nor conservative. It does not speak a particular language nor is it limited to any one culture, nationality or religion. Peace is universally understood by everyone, everywhere. Most people want a peaceful world, few do anything about it. Therefore it is not yet a peaceful world. But it can be done! Peace is one of the most universal wishes for everyone around the world together with good health and happiness. But that is the thing about peace. You do not only wish for it. You make it happen. You make peace.’

“Achieving World Peace does not require all of us to first become saints. If that were the condition for peace, itwould never happen. - Gert Olefs, World Peace 2035”

Peace is universally understood by everyone, everywhere. Most people want a peaceful world, few do anything about it

No doubt ridding ourselves of war could bring a number of benefits. But can we really do it? Gert seems to think we can! Not only that, but he’s built a tribe of people that also think it’s possible and he’s inviting us to join him!

Gert invites us: ‘Let’s stand up, create peace and spread it to all corners of our precious, wonderful planet. Ask yourself the following questions: If not you, who? If not now, when? It is time for all of us to act, now!’

And what do World Leaders think of Gert’s initiative? Herman Van Rompuy, Minister of State,

President Emeritus European Council and President of the European Policy Center said ‘A civic initiative such as World Peace 2035 can only be encouraged sinceparticipation of and initiative by the general population can give an important impulse to achieving World Peace.’ High praise indeed!

Having interviewed Gert Olefs, I can tell you that he is passionate, but he’s also balanced. And to listen to him speak is a delight! I know you’ll warm up to him and his quest easily. Have a listen to our interview!

Ready to join this incredible movement for Peace? Click on https://www.facebook.com/ WorldPeace2035/ and follow Gert and his team. There are already over 1mil tribe members!

If you’d like a copy of Gert’s book World Peace 2035, you can get one here http://book. worldpeace2035.org/

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