A Letter from Chris Suarez
Hey Simon: Start With Because
I’m a self-proclaimed Simon Sinek fan. I’ve appreciated his work around building your business and life around your “Why”. His message brings real purpose, clarity, focus, and direction to our every day. His last book, The Infinite Game, gave some real meaning to the future and has been influential as we continue to build in the present. Back in early 2019 we delivered that book to our entire organization and have referred to it often since then.
But hey Simon, sometimes I just want to start with “because” and sometimes the game is just in the moment.
While out for my run early this morning, I couldn’t seem to get my mind clear. I kept thinking about “why” I had to hit a certain running pace, “why” I had to complete 7 miles this morning, “why” I had to be back to the house by 6:30am, “why” I hadn’t finished writing that course that was supposed to be done last week, “why”… You get the point. So many “why” questions.
So, I decided that instead of starting with the question why today, I would start with the answer because. I would give myself permission to do whatever I chose to do without having a reason, without asking “why”, without needing a purpose or focus or direction.
Just because. And immediately my mind cleared. Pressure lifted. I decided to keep running…and get home whenever I decided I had finished my run. Nine miles later I was walking through the front door with no agenda for the day. Why? Just because.
As I sit down at the end of the day to write my letter to our organization, my Saturday was still filled with activity. Starting with “because” didn’t make me any less productive. I made some final edits to a value proposition piece for our teams. I wrote a few notes to people that I had been thinking about. I called a mentor, a friend, and a client who’s condo is going on the market this coming week. I read a little with my older daughter and painted the chicken coop with my youngest daughter. I worked on a course that I had been procrastinating. I did a 20 minute bike ride on the Peloton this afternoon. And I hopped on a zoom for a bit with some friends from around the city. I ended the day with a walk in the woods. Why did I decide to do each of those things? Just because. I had no real reason, no real intention, no real drive.
Just because.
If we believe we have to start with “why” or always answer the why question, it can add so much pressure. At times we need to just do, or just experience, or just be. We need not have a reason or purpose for every single thing we do.
Think back to being a kid again and your mom or dad would ask you why you did something. Your reply? “Because.” Or even better, “No reason.” That answer never really went over well in my household, but there is a lesson there. As kids, we operated a bit more on a whim didn’t we? We didn’t over analyze. We did things just because.
Do I believe we should start important decisions with purpose, and reason, and a why? Of course. I also believe it’s important to have time and days where we don’t apply that to everything we do That we allow ourselves the time to walk through our day without agenda or purpose or reason, doing things, well, just because.
Chris
