“Why can't I just eat my waffle?”

- Barack Obama

In 1937, Kiichiro Toyoda launched the Toyota Motor Corporation, an offshoot of the then Toyota Industries. It was also, in that same decade, that the Toyoda family started to implement their “Five Why’s” strategy to solve problems in their companies. The technique involves just what its namesake says, asking “why” five times. I’ve said on numerous occasions that “why” is an intimate question. Even more so, it’s an intimate conversation to be had with yourself if you’re going to stay on the road to your “where”.

So, why ask why?! The answer is simple, shit happens and when it does, we often ask ourselves the first “why” in what should be a series of why’s. We ask things like, why am I even doing this?! Why does it even matter?! Why did I even think I could do that?!

That particular “why” question is not what I’ll be talking about in this series. The why questions we’ll be talking about are ones that challenge us to defy the odds. Why can’t I be as successful as I want to be?! Why aren’t I further along?! Why can’t I be in the driver's seat of my life and go where I choose to go?! To answer any of those questions, my friend, you’ll need to ask “why”, at least four more times.

As you drill down and ask why, it reinforces your overarching “why”. You see, the more you ask why, the deeper you go into yourself for the answer. That’s the place you’ll find and need, at some point on your journey, the strength necessary to push through, over, under, or around the obstacles you will face. Because, believe it or not, you will face obstacles on the road to your “where”.

Also, keep in mind and again, take note of how you feel about your “why’s” as you ask and answer your questions. I can't emphasise enough on how important your feelings and emotions are as we discuss each word of this series. Especially in the process of manifesting your “where”. Those feelings of excitement, anger, confidence, and frustration that you feel in the pit of your stomach will be the fuel you use to empower yourself on the journey. As you clarify your main “why” with the Five Why strategy, you’ll feel a superpower come over you. You’ll literally be able to see through obstacles and bring your “where” into view even more clearly than before.

Remember to keep your “why” close because doubt is your Kryptonite and it is forever present. When I think of doubt, I’m reminded of the movie, “A Beautiful Mind”. It’s a classic movie based on a true story of a schizophrenic math genius. Towards the end of the movie, it shows the main character played by Russell Crowe walking with his hallucinations. His character had learned to acknowledge that the hallucinations were real but also acknowledge that he can’t let them stop him from living. Yes my friend it’s real. The doubts, the fears, the anxiety, it's all real. However, your “why” is also real. In fact, your “why” is far more real and more important on the road to your “where” than any fear or doubt you could ever feel.

Until next week my friend. I look forward to jumping back into the “Why” of things with you.

Chris Chaney

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, do more, and become more, you are a leader...”

- John Quincy Adams

4.12.22