Spot on, Dirk. I actually shared that exact question with a group of parents recently as a tool to help them bridge the gap with their kids. It’s amazing how moving from 'How was school?' to 'What was the best part of your day?' completely changes the energy in the room. It’s the difference between managing a schedule and actually witnessing a life. Glad to hear it’s a daily staple for you!
This one stayed with me. The ROI framing is useful — but what I keep returning to is the moment before someone can even ask the question. Most of the people I work with don’t know they’ve stopped feeling alive at work. They just know something is off. That’s usually where we start.
There’s something very grounded in how this piece connects philosophy to something measurable.
The idea of “ROI of aliveness” could feel abstract, but anchoring it in 36 minutes makes it tangible...
Another great essay, John!
I use this one pretty much every day, and can confirm that it just plain works: “What was the best part of your day?”
Spot on, Dirk. I actually shared that exact question with a group of parents recently as a tool to help them bridge the gap with their kids. It’s amazing how moving from 'How was school?' to 'What was the best part of your day?' completely changes the energy in the room. It’s the difference between managing a schedule and actually witnessing a life. Glad to hear it’s a daily staple for you!
This one stayed with me. The ROI framing is useful — but what I keep returning to is the moment before someone can even ask the question. Most of the people I work with don’t know they’ve stopped feeling alive at work. They just know something is off. That’s usually where we start.
Restacking this.