Every coaching program, branding workshop, and personal growth session begins with the same question: “What’s your WHY?” It’s framed as the ultimate source of discipline, commitment, and success. Individuals and organizations with strong WHYS not only empower themselves but also inspire others to achieve great things.
Your WHY, they say, is your anchor. It’s what pushes you to keep going when motivation fades. It’s often a concrete mission.
“I’m running this marathon to raise funds for cancer research.” Harriette Thompson, at age 94, became the oldest woman to complete a half-marathon, finishing the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Half Marathon in 3:42:56. To date, she has raised over $100,000 for cancer research. As a two-time cancer survivor, Thompson began running marathons at the age of 76 to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Her WHY was deeply personal. She wanted to support cancer research and create hope for others battling the disease. [Source: ESPN]
Or:
“We believed that if we could figure out how to fly, it would change the world.” This was the Wright brothers’ WHY, as Simon Sinek details in Start with Why. Orville and Wilbur Wright didn’t have formal education, funding, or connections. They pursued flight with unwavering determination. Their belief in solving this challenge, not rewards of fame or fortune, led them to achieve what others could not. [Source: Simon Sinek’s Start with Why]
These WHYS are compelling. But what if your WHY isn’t a concrete mission or neatly articulated sentence?
What if your WHY is the pursuit of something less tangible but just as powerful? A feeling.
What Is Flow-State?
Flow-state is that moment when you are completely immersed in what you’re doing. Time seems to vanish. Challenges feel like opportunities. Every decision feels inevitable.
It’s what happens when your skills perfectly meet the demands of the task at hand. Psychologists describe flow as the ultimate state of focus and performance. I describe it as the reason I run, work, and create.
Research supports the power of flow-state:
- 500% increase in productivity: A study by McKinsey found that executives working in flow were five times more productive than their peers. [Source: Fast Company]
- 3x more creativity: Studies show that individuals in flow generate three times more creative ideas than those not in flow. [Research from the Flow Genome Project]
- Happier and more fulfilled: Flow-state is linked to greater job satisfaction and overall well-being. [Source: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience]
For some, a WHY is a clear mission. A goal to strive toward or a cause to champion. For others, like me, WHY is flow-state itself. It’s not a specific outcome or mission. It’s a way of being. A means through which big problems are tackled and traditional WHYS are pursued with relentless focus and joy.
Why Flow-State Is Enough
Unlike traditional WHYS, flow-state isn’t tied to an outcome. It’s not about completing a marathon or creating the next great invention. It’s about the joy of the process.
You’ve felt it.
- In skiing, it’s the rush of visualizing your path down a steep mogul slope. You respond instinctively to every turn and change in terrain.
- In running, it’s the meditative rhythm of your breath and heartbeat. The miles fall away.
- In work, it’s those moments when challenges become stepping stones. Ideas flow effortlessly. The thrill of problem-solving immerses you completely, whether it’s shaping a campaign strategy or collaborating with an innovative team.
Flow-state doesn’t need to be justified. It’s not about proving something to others. It’s about being fully alive in what you’re doing right now.
For leaders, the power of flow-state lies in its ability to energize problem-solving and focus. Imagine having someone who brings flow-state to your team. A partner who immerses themselves in your biggest challenges and finds creative, focused solutions that align with your mission. This is how flow-state works in practice. It’s not just about personal fulfillment. It’s about driving momentum for those with a bigger WHY to achieve.
What’s your WHY? And how can someone immersed in flow-state help you pursue it?
Flow-state is my WHY. It’s how I approach big problems, create strategies, and bring focus to challenges. For businesses and leaders, partnering with someone who thrives in flow can create extraordinary outcomes.
Innovative solutions.
Seamless execution.
Alignment with your larger mission.
If you’re ready to tackle your biggest challenges with someone who can bring flow-state to your team, let’s connect. Together, we’ll turn your WHY into results.
