Mindful Decison Making: The CEO’s Three Questions
In a bustling city, the CEO of a successful tech company, driven by ambition and the desire to make the most impactful decisions, found himself constantly stressed and overwhelmed. He believed that if he could just know the answers to three critical questions, he would always make the right decisions. The questions were:
- What is the most important time to act?
- Who are the most important people to listen to?
- What is the most important thing to focus on?
Determined to find answers, the CEO consulted his top advisors, data analysts, consultants and even read the latest leadership books, but he found the advice contradictory and unsatisfying. Some said that predicting market trends was the key, others said that shareholders or customers were the most important to focus on. Overwhelmed by conflicting opinions, he decided to take a different approach and stepped out of his usual environment.
He heard about a renowned mindfulness coach who lived simply on the outskirts of the city, teaching people the art of living in the present moment. Despite his initial skepticism, the CEO decided to visit this coach, thinking it might offer a fresh perspective.
When he arrived, the CEO found the coach tending to a community garden, weeding and planting with a group of volunteers. The coach greeted him warmly but continued her work, inviting the CEO to join. Annoyed but curious, the CEO rolled up his sleeves and started helping out.
While they worked, the CEO impatiently asked his three questions. The coach, however, didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she smiled and continued to work in silence. Hours passed, and the CEO began to grow frustrated. Just as he was about to leave, a young child from the community approached them, crying because they had lost their pet. The coach gently consoled the child and helped organize a search, and the CEO found himself drawn into the task, spending hours helping to find the pet.
Finally, late in the evening, the pet was found, and the child was overjoyed. Exhausted, the CEO sat down beside the coach, who was brewing some tea.
“Why didn’t you answer my questions?” the CEO asked, feeling the weight of his day.
The coach smiled and replied, “But I did.”
“When?” the CEO asked, bewildered.
“Today,” said the coach. “The most important time to act is now—the present moment. You were here, working in the garden, and that was what mattered. The most important people are the ones you’re with at this moment—in this case, the community, the volunteers, and the child who needed help. And the most important thing to focus on is what you are doing right now. Whether it’s pulling weeds, helping a child, or just listening, that’s where your attention needs to be.”
The CEO paused, reflecting on the day. He realized that by focusing on the present moment, he had connected deeply with the people around him, found satisfaction in simple tasks, and helped solve a real problem. His usual stress and overthinking had faded into the background.
From that day on, the CEO incorporated mindfulness into his daily life. He learned that success wasn’t just about making the right decisions but about being present, listening, and responding to the needs of the moment. Through mindfulness, he found the clarity he was searching for—not in grand strategies or future plans but in the simple, present actions of everyday life.
And so, the CEO discovered that the answers to his three questions were always within his reach, if only he would pause, breathe, and be present.