Work hard?
For what?

Exercise hard?
For what?

Eat right and take care of yourself?
For what?

That “for what” is what we have to all solve for in life.

Imagine training for a marathon but not knowing that the distance was 26.2 miles. You would have no way to train for the race, no way to check in on your progress.

A goal without a reason – the “for what” – becomes meaningless.

We must OWN the goal. We must own who we want to become and, more importantly, know why.

Ultimately, that goal (and that for what) must be for us – not just for someone else.

I have always worked out. I have dieted to lose weight.

Early in my career, I worked hard for every sales contest or the chance to win something.

I worked tirelessly to build my firm and serve my clients.

But ultimately, I felt that I had yet to become the best version of myself.

In some ways, that’s because I hadn’t figured out what I wanted, what was really important to me.

As my business has changed and as I now have been married for ten years with two amazing young children, I can honestly say that my goals have become clear.

I understand my “for what?”

Now, it’s about refining and defining what I want to be and do.

Ultimately, as I sit here and think about it, I believe it’s about legacy.

How are you remembered? By whom are you remembered? And what’s the long-lasting impact we leave on those around us?

It’s like one gigantic puzzle, with each piece having its own place – and also time in your life that it fits, too.

The sooner we solve for what each piece means, the sooner the puzzle will come together and be the picture we all want and deserve.

What’s your “for what?!”

-J.D.