As I sit to write this latest blog, we are ten days past a new year, and I am exactly one week away from my 56th birthday. I hadn’t thought about it, but next week marks 10 years until my 65th birthday, that magical age most often known as retirement. As I considered next week’s milestone, thoughts began to percolate about what I wanted the next ten years of my life to look like. I didn’t know where to start, how best to approach this process, or even how to analyze and break down my considerations. 

It’s surprising how inspiration can suddenly appear. Last week, I cleaned up my office to kick off a New Year’s Resolution to be more organized in 2024, and in my travels to Boston this week, I realized I had accidentally packed a stack of articles in my bag for the week. An article by Rick Warren, a minister I have followed over the years, was unknowingly on top of the stack. Rick has a great way of rolling faith and real-world experience together. 

The title of this blog and the thoughts I will share are from an article he wrote and I printed more than thirteen years ago called “How to Focus Your Life.” He starts the article with, “The next 10 years can be the greatest of your life; they can become a Decade of Destiny, where your life is in focus and, as a result, you can make an impact in all you do.”

Rick’s article ties closely with another motivational personality I follow, Simon Sinek, and I will make the connection shortly. In the article, Rick wants the reader to consider “where you are now.” He asks, ” Where are you Spiritually, Relationally, and Occupationally?” 

A few weeks ago, I wrote “The Table Concept, Balancing Faith, Family, and Work for A Life Fulfilled.” Interestingly enough, Rick’s ask aligns perfectly with my three pillars. Still, he takes the thought further and asks, “Where are you emotionally and physically?” requiring some internal self-assessment as well.

Rick goes on to ask, “What would you like to change? What would you like to be different in each of these areas?” He pulls it all together, and Simon Sinek enters stage left, “Okay, now why do you want to make these changes? You can’t just know the what; you need to know the why- that’s your motivation. If you don’t know your why, you will give up when things get tough.”

Simon is famous for his “Start with Why” book and approach to business. He says, “Most companies know what they do, but very few know why they do it.” At SharkNinja, if you walk our offices or look at our websites, you will see the phrase “Positively impacting People’s Lives Every Day in Every Home Around the World.” This is “Why” we do what we do as an organization; our why is clear.

What is your “Why?” What propels you forward? What is your motivator? To find this answer, I have followed a combination of steps Rick and Simon suggest:

Step 1. Determine where you are now in the previously mentioned areas, but I’d offer that you expand that list if others carry weight in your life.

Step 2. Determine what you would like to change in each area.

Step 3: Determine why you want to make these changes. Remember, as Rick said, ” This is your motivator; this is where you derive your purpose. This is what will move you forward and keep you putting one foot in front of the other when times get tough, and the challenges seem monumental. 

Step 4: Be specific in what you want. Rick says, “You need to be able to describe exactly what you want.” And the reasoning?

Step 5: This will help you precisely articulate why you want it.

Precision is critical; Rick goes on to say, ” You never reach a vague goal. The more general it is, the less power it has. The more specific the goal, the more power it has in your life.”?

In summary, I’ve realized there is never a better time than now, no matter how late or deep you are in whatever situation you find yourself. I think we continue to better ourselves by pushing the limits and getting out of our comfort zone. We do this by finding what gives us meaning and purpose—finding our “Why” is what will keep us motivated in the continued pursuit of a life fulfilled. 

As we start 2024, I wish you all a year filled with happiness, health, success, purpose, and blessings, and remember, it’s never too late to find your Decade of Destiny!!

S. Darrin Johnston is a C Suite Management Executive in the housewares industry.

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(1.) “How to Focus Your Life,” by Rick Warren. Published Oct. 11, 2010, via email from Purpose Driven Connection.

(2.) “Start With Why,” by Simon Sinek. Published October 2009