Karoo
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
Do you look at a logo and wonder about its meaning, history and how it relates to the thing it represents?
I do.
I hope you do too, because that is a sign of curiosity, and Influential Leadership demands that we be curious about the things that cross our paths, and beyond.
Logos, emblems, avatars, icons, insignia, symbol and trademarks have powerful impacts in our daily lives, triggering a host of thoughts, senses and emotions.
Do you know their stories?
The Karoo Genesis
A form of the Karoo logo saw the light of day eight years ago.
The Influential Leadership System (System) was embryonic at that time, mostly still forming in my mind, driven by first-hand experience that legacy leadership is not fit for human consumption; it has not been for millennia.
It was during one of my periodic cycling trips to the Karoo in South Africa (the place) that it struck me how this unique geographic space is a compelling metaphor for the ‘leadership thing’ that was bubbling in my mind.
As I worked on the System architecture and spent further time in the Karoo, the metaphor took shape in the form of a picture, that transformed into the logo you see today.
The Karoo: A Place
The Karoo is an elongated semi-desert area in the southwestern part of South Africa, made up of two geographic zones.
The ‘Klein’ (small) Karoo lies towards the southern coastal plateau, while the ‘Groot’ (great) Karoo lies inland on the northern side of a string of mountain ranges.
Its vast 395,000 km2 covers almost one-third of South Africa, which would make it the 60th largest country on Earth; a shade larger than Germany or Japan and somewhat bigger than Vietnam.
The name ‘Karoo’ Is derived from the original people who lived in these parts, the Khoi, who aptly referred to the area as Garo—a hard, dry, thirsty land.
The Karoo logo captures essential natural and human elements of Garo:
- Its five primary colours:
-
- Burned Orange
- Earthen Brunette
- Shale Brown
- Shrub Green
- Cerulean Sky and Water
- The Eternal Sun.
- The Ever-watchful Meerkat.
- The Relentless Windpump.
- The NASA Font (nasalization) that peers into the Universe, beyond our earthly bounds, towards new possibilities
The Story of the Karoo Logo is the Story of Influential Leadership
The Karoo is a challenging place for man and other living things:
- To survive and thrive requires an indomitable spirit, foresight, resourcefulness and respect.
- It is a place where a little must go a long way.
- Life, water, is found in its depths, if we dig deep enough.
- It might appear lifeless, until we pay attention to the details.
- There are no entitlements here, just responsibility.
- There are predators in the sky and on land—be alert.
- Size does not matter, but attitude does.
- Survival is possible if we live with the land—those who fight against its rhythm succumb.
So, when next you see the Karoo logo, remember that Influential Leadership has its roots in a hard, dry, thirsty land. It is our business to make life better for ourselves and others, no matter our circumstances.
If you have travelled the Influential Leadership way already, just keep going. If not, join us on the journey. Chat with me before 2024 becomes history.
Regards,
Colin @ Karoo
Influential Leaders make a little go a long way
Leadership Weekly Note: 5124.161224
e: colind@karoo.world
Follow The Karoo Influential Leadership on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KarooInfluentialLeadership
