On September 25th the DeVoe School of Business at Indiana Wesleyan University Indianapolis, IN welcomed ELO's Dr. Rick J. Goossen—entrepreneur, author, and Founder of the ELO Oxford Leadership Program—for an energizing keynote on Flourish: The Power of Long-Term Thinking & Doing.

The event was part of the cohort experience for the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program. Hosted under the direction of Shelley Webb, Ph.D., the session drew students, faculty, and staff eager to explore what it really means to flourish. Rick began by asking a provocative question: When in your life will your education deliver the greatest impact? His answer surprised many—your 60s and 70s can be your most influential decades.

The Five Dimensions of Flourishing

Rick outlined five essential pillars:

• Happiness & Life Satisfaction

• Physical & Mental Health

• Meaning & Purpose

• Character & Virtue

• Close Social Relationships

“When these dimensions are in balance,” he explained, “you are positioned to truly flourish.”

Think Long Term, Act Long Term

Drawing from his research and entrepreneurial experience, Rick challenged students to embrace long-term thinking and doing:

• Believe In Yourself – Education is a lifelong asset; “you really can’t invest too much in yourself.”

• Believe In Your Plan – Confidence and strategy go hand-in-hand with God’s timing: “God plans in advance of our ability to understand.”

• Practice Discipline – Embrace Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000-hour rule as part of the path to excellence 

• Practice Sacrifice – lasting success requires daily habits and delayed gratification in many facets of life, such as financial management.

A Growing Partnership

This visit also highlighted the ongoing collaboration between IWU and ELO in offering the ELO Oxford Leadership Program, giving IWU students and alumni a pathway to world-class leadership training host t the Said Business School, University of Oxford.

Looking Ahead

Rick left the audience with a powerful reminder: “All of you have a unique calling—when you live that calling, you will truly flourish.”

The DeVoe School of Business and ELO celebrate this shared commitment to cultivating leaders who think deeply, act wisely, and serve with lasting impact.