We grow together as we keep sight of our why

​Dear Why Team members,

This past Saturday, I was listening to Brian Johnson's Podcast interview of Tim Sanders, author of "Today You Are Rich".  In the interview, Tim speaks to the powerful idea of life design - how you have designed your life, being mindfully proactive or mindlessly reactive. 

The following email from fellow Why Team member James Gnefkow is absolute rock fuel in regard to this concept of life design.  James sent me his thoughts after reading last weeks Why Team weekly on mindfulness.  He provides us here with the power of mindfulness in action. 

​Thank you James, from all of us, for allowing me to share your life and experiences with the team. 

---

Thanks Steve! 

Your last "WHY TEAM" email really struck home for me!  I recently began practicing "mindful" meditation a few months ago.  I was introduced to it by total chance - one of my closest friends is an anesthesiologist who just turned 40.  No doubt prompted by a milestone birthday, he was determined to find a "medical" way to keep his body and mind as young as possible for as long as possible.  Based on his research, his prescription was the following:  keep testosterone levels high with some key vitamins and minerals (specifically 5000 IUs of D-3 and a zinc/magnesium combo), exercise & strength training, a proper diet, 8 hours of sleep per day (apparently our body creates the most testosterone while we sleep), and mindful meditation.

Vitamins/exercise & strength training/diet/sleep?  Check - those are easy.  But I had never meditated and I was skeptical, but willing to give it a shot.  He pointed me to podcasts to learn more, specifically "The Tim Ferris Show" to hear how "outliers" in numerous fields commonly utilize mindful meditation as a part of their morning routine.  He also recommended a podcast by Tara Brach (very useful, even though I'm not Buddhist).  Both of which are free on the podcast app on our iPhones.  My own research directed me to UCLA's mindfulness research center which provides several free guided meditations.

The result?  Mindful meditation has been a total game changer - it has enhanced my relationships with my wife, my kids, my advisors, and myself.  I'm a better listener and I'm more attuned with the people in my life.  I strive to do it twice daily - first as part of my morning routine and also before my head hits the pillow at night.

So this all led me to how best routinize my daily practice and I began to consider the following (I'd appreciate your thoughts):  Is it possible to create specific habits to help me achieve my "WHY"?  Can I mindfully and proactively create those daily habits that will result in living my "WHY" on a daily basis, perhaps even effortlessly and habitually?

And if so, by clearly and "mindfully" defining and connecting with my "WHY" and creating the daily habits necessary to carry it out, can I also hold myself accountable - daily - to ensure my behavior is aligning with my "WHY"?

This led me to Marshall Goldsmith, a leadership coach and advisor to executives like Alan Mulally (among others), and his book "Triggers:  Creating Behavior That Lasts."  Goldsmith recommends asking ourselves a series of customized questions at the end of each day.  These questions are formed around the person we want to become, both personally and professionally.  The questions take the form of, "Did I do my best to..."  I grade myself 1-10.  After an honest evaluation, my grades often are well below 10, but I see my daily results, I see the trends, and I am faced with the choice whether to improve (and live according to my intentions), or not.  This process has been very helpful for me to make sure I hold myself accountable to living the life I INTEND to live.  I have several questions on my list, including:

"Did I do my best to connect with my wife today?"
"Did I do my best to connect with my kids today?"
"Did I do my best to bring value to every advisor meeting today?"
"Did I do my best to listen today?"

One of my daily questions is, "Did I do my best to connect with my "WHY" today?"

My "WHY" is my motivator - the reason I get up everyday.  It forms the basis of everything else.  I continue to try to identify the key behaviors necessary to carry out my why (based on Brian Moran's methodology).  Do those key behaviors truly correlate with my "WHY"?  (based on Simon Sinek's research).  How can I automate and routinize these behaviors to increase the likelihood I behave the way I intend to on a daily basis?  (based on Charles Duhigg's - "The Power of Habit" research).  And finally, am I living out my intent, as tracked via daily accountability questions?  (based on Marshall Goldsmith's book, mentioned above).

I'm a work in progress, but all of these things continue to be at the forefront of my mind because of your "WHY TEAM" efforts.  Thank you for your thought leadership!

James Gnefkow

Now you know WHY I asked that he allow me to share his thoughts with you. Thanks again James, so glad you are on the team and took the time to share.

Why Team members: Consider some of these ideas for improving your life design and Why it matters to you.

Make it a great week,

​Steve Luckenbach