The Big Five for Life

1. Discover Your Purpose for Existing (PFE) and Big Five for Life

"They are the five things we most want to do, see, or experience before we die. The five things so important to us, that if we did, saw, or experienced them, then in our last moments—those final seconds before we pass away—we could look back over our life and know it was a success."

Define your life's purpose. Your Purpose for Existing (PFE) is the reason why you're here, why you were born. It's your personal mission statement that guides your life decisions. Coupled with this is the concept of the Big Five for Life – the five most important experiences or achievements you want to accomplish before you die.

Align work with purpose. In Thomas's companies, employees are only hired if their personal PFE aligns with the company's PFE, and their job responsibilities fulfill part of their Big Five for Life. This ensures that work is not just a means to an end, but a fulfilling part of one's life journey.

Benefits of PFE and Big Five for Life alignment:

• Increased motivation and productivity
• Higher job satisfaction
• Lower employee turnover
• Better overall company performance

2. Lead with a Museum Day Morning Mindset

"Imagine if every day of our life was cataloged? The way we felt, the people we saw, how we spent our time. And at the end of our life a museum was built. It was built to show exactly how we lived our life."

Visualize your life as a museum. This powerful metaphor encourages us to live each day intentionally, as if our actions were being recorded for future display. It prompts us to consider how we want to be remembered and what legacy we want to leave behind.

Make conscious choices. By adopting this mindset, leaders can make more deliberate decisions about how they spend their time, treat others, and pursue their goals. It encourages a focus on meaningful actions and relationships rather than trivial pursuits.

Questions to ask yourself each morning:

• Is today a good "museum day"?
• What exhibit am I creating with my actions today?
• How will this day contribute to my life's overall story?

3. Create an Ascending Life Curve for Yourself and Others

"The secret to life, Mark, is to have a sine curve that doesn't just go on over time, but that ascends over time. I call it an ascending life curve."

Strive for continuous growth. An ascending life curve represents a life that consistently reaches new heights of satisfaction and achievement. While everyone experiences ups and downs, the key is to ensure that over time, even your low points are higher than your previous highs.

Enable others to ascend. As a leader, your role is not just to ascend yourself, but to help others do the same. This involves creating an environment where people can grow, learn, and fulfill their potential.

Ways to create an ascending life curve:

• Continuously learn and acquire new skills
• Set progressively challenging goals
• Regularly reflect on and celebrate progress
• Help others grow and succeed alongside you

4. Align Personal and Organizational Goals for Maximum Fulfillment

"Everything in my companies is tied to people's Purpose For Existing and Big Five for Life, Joe. We do things because in the process of doing them we are guaranteeing our life is a success as we define success."

Create synergy between individual and company goals. When personal aspirations align with organizational objectives, it creates a powerful motivational force. Employees are more engaged, productive, and loyal when their work contributes to their own life goals.

Foster a culture of purpose. Encourage open discussions about personal and professional goals. Help employees see how their daily tasks contribute to both the company's success and their own life ambitions.

Benefits of goal alignment:

• Higher employee engagement and satisfaction
• Increased productivity and innovation
• Lower turnover rates
• Stronger company culture and teamwork

5. Focus on the One: Learn from Successful Examples

"We have limited time and energy each day, so why not focus it on learning from the best about how to do whatever it is we want to do, see, or experience."

Prioritize learning from success. Instead of dwelling on failures or studying mediocrity, focus on understanding and emulating those who have already achieved what you aspire to. This approach saves time and increases the likelihood of success.

Seek out mentors and role models. Actively look for people or organizations that embody the success you desire. Study their methods, mindsets, and strategies to accelerate your own growth and achievement.

Steps to focus on the one:

1. Identify your specific goals or challenges
2. Find individuals or companies that excel in those areas
3. Study their methods and principles
4. Adapt and apply their strategies to your situation
5. Continuously refine based on results

6. Implement the Five Steps to Motivate and Inspire Your Team

"Successful leaders understand that following what I'll share with you enables them to motivate people far beyond what the people get paid for, and far more effectively than when money is the only incentive."

Follow a structured approach to leadership. Thomas outlines five key steps that effective leaders should implement to motivate and inspire their teams:

1. Clearly articulate goals and reasons: Ensure everyone understands what needs to be accomplished and why it matters.
2. Involve people in finding solutions: Engage team members in problem-solving and decision-making processes.
3. Explain the rules of the game: Provide clear parameters and expectations for everyone's roles and responsibilities.
4. Link personal goals with organizational goals: Help employees see how their work contributes to both company success and personal fulfillment.
5. Remove poor fits quickly: If someone isn't aligned with the team's goals and culture, address the issue promptly.

Benefits of this approach:

• Increased employee engagement and ownership
• Better problem-solving and innovation
• Clearer communication and expectations
• Stronger alignment between individual and company goals
• More cohesive and productive teams

7. Always Write the Ending First in Life and Leadership

"We either write the ending we want, and then create a life that gets us there, or we end up living someone else's story, and having an ending that pales compared to the one we would have written for ourselves."

Begin with the end in mind. This principle applies to both personal life and leadership. By envisioning your desired outcome first, you can work backwards to create a path that leads to that result.

Apply this principle broadly. Use this approach for your overall life goals, but also for smaller projects, meetings, and daily tasks. Always ask yourself what success looks like before you begin.

Areas to apply "write the ending first":

• Personal life goals and aspirations
• Career and professional development
• Company vision and strategy
• Project planning and execution
• Daily tasks and meetings

8. Cultivate a Culture of Openness, Growth, and Shared Success

"Culture rolls downhill, Mark. As a leader, if there's something wrong in one of my companies, it's my fault first."

Lead by example. The culture of an organization is a reflection of its leadership. As a leader, your actions, decisions, and attitudes set the tone for the entire company.

Foster transparency and accountability. Create an environment where open communication is encouraged, mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities, and success is shared. This approach builds trust, promotes innovation, and drives collective growth.

Key elements of a positive company culture:

• Open and honest communication
• Continuous learning and development
• Shared responsibility for success and failure
• Recognition and celebration of achievements
• Emphasis on work-life balance and personal fulfillment

9. Understand the Ripple Effect of Leadership

"The point I make with my people, is when they make the decision to be a great leader, the impact of their actions will extend well beyond anything they will ever know."

Recognize the far-reaching impact of leadership. Every decision and action a leader takes can have consequences that extend far beyond the immediate situation. This ripple effect can influence not only your direct reports but also their families, communities, and future generations.

Lead with intention and responsibility. Understanding this ripple effect should inspire leaders to act with greater care, consideration, and purpose. It emphasizes the importance of ethical decision-making and long-term thinking.

Ways the ripple effect manifests:

• Inspiring others to pursue their dreams
• Shaping organizational culture and practices
• Influencing industry standards and norms
• Impacting communities through business decisions
• Creating a legacy that outlasts your tenure

10. Prioritize Profits Through People-Centric Leadership

"There's nothing soft about hard profits. Second, all the profits are in the people."

Invest in people for long-term success. While it may seem counterintuitive, focusing on employee satisfaction and fulfillment is the most effective way to drive sustainable profits. Happy, engaged employees are more productive, innovative, and loyal.

Create a win-win scenario. By aligning company success with employee fulfillment, you create a situation where everyone benefits. This approach leads to higher productivity, lower turnover, and ultimately, increased profitability.

Key strategies for people-centric leadership:

• Hire based on PFE and Big Five for Life alignment
• Invest in employee development and growth
• Create a positive, fulfilling work environment
• Recognize and reward contributions
• Prioritize work-life balance and personal well-being

Last updated: January 23, 2025