Last week I had the pleasure of leading a mastermind session where we unpacked one of my absolute favorite topics: the power of asking “why” in goal setting. We weren’t just skimming the surface. We dove in deep—seven levels deep, to be precise. Why? Because when you peel back the layers of your ambitions, what you uncover often isn’t about money or shiny toys at all, but about something far more essential: purpose, security, love, or legacy. In this blog post, I want to share that process with you, reflect on my own journey, and show you how just a handful of simple “whys” can transform a generic objective into a purpose-driven mission.

I’ll be honest: I used to be guilty of setting goals that sounded impressive—“I want to build a million‑dollar business,” “I want a private jet,” or “I want fame.” On the surface, they looked glamorous. But when I asked myself the first “why,” I got answers like “because I want to impress people” or “because society says that’s success.” Not very heartening. So I asked again. “Why do I want to impress people?” And again: “Why does society’s approval matter?” By the fourth or fifth question, something interesting happened: my head tilted, and I landed on a truth that made me pause. It was as if I’d stripped away the noise and got a glimpse of what really drove me—personal freedom, emotional safety, and the chance to leave a meaningful legacy for my kids.

One of my clearest memories of this process was around a financial milestone I once set. I’ll spare you the exact number, but it was hefty enough to feel unobtainable. I asked myself, “Why do I need that amount?” After two whys, I realized it was about security; two more and I landed on providing for my family. But by why number six, I was face‑to‑face with a childhood memory: my parents split when I was two, and I’d spent years wondering why my dad wasn’t around. That vulnerability stung. I didn’t just want more money—what I yearned for was the psychological safety of knowing my kids would never feel the absence or uncertainty I experienced. That was my real objective.

This exercise brought me to a refrain I share in every goal‑setting program: Do you really need a million dollars, or do you just need what that million represents? Think of the private jet dream. You don’t need to own a jet; you need the freedom to fly wherever life calls you. Renting a charter here and there requires far less capital than buying the whole aircraft. Once I realized that, I redesigned my goals to reflect exactly that freedom and flexibility. If you want to try this for yourself, I encourage you to download my 7 Whys worksheet, pick one of your big dreams, and start asking. Keep going until your answer elicits that little “huh”—that’s where the magic lives.

If you’d like to explore these ideas in a community of driven professionals who are also on a mission to find and fulfill their purpose, I’d love to invite you to my Round Table. It’s a space where we go beyond just goal setting, connecting you with like‑minded individuals and ongoing support to keep you inspired. You can learn more and apply here: https://www.ThirdPowerPerformance.com/round-table.

So, what do you really want, and why do you want it? It’s not just clever self‑reflection—it’s the pathway to goals that energize you at your core. I hope you’ll take a few minutes today to ask yourself those seven whys, uncover what’s underneath, and then let that discovery guide your next big move. Keep living your life to the third power, and I’ll talk to you soon.

Together, we can cultivate extraordinary lives filled with purpose, passion, and profound growth. Be the greenhouse and watch everything around you bloom.