Last week I kicked off another cohort-based program called Supercharge Your Productivity, from Khe Hy at RadReads.

The name of this program suggests it’s focused on productivity hacks and turning people into power users of task list applications. Tips on how to use productivity tools are great, but I can find all that on YouTube for free.

The truth is there’s so much more beneath the surface.

So why did I join Supercharge Your Productivity?

The first prompt within the course is to answer that very question. Not just once, but five times, using an exercise called The 5 Whys.

The 5 Whys: Getting to the Root of the Matter | CX Journey™

The 5 Whys technique was developed in the 1930s by Sakichi Toyoda, the founder of the automotive manufacturer Toyota Industries.

The 5 Whys exercise is a simple but effective problem-solving technique that helps individuals and teams identify the root cause of a problem.

This approach involves asking the question "Why?" five times to dig deeper into the issue and uncover the underlying causes.

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Step 1: Identify the Problem

The first step in performing the 5 Whys exercise is to clearly identify the problem.

This could be a problem that you have noticed in your personal life, at work, or in the community.

Write down a brief description of the problem, including any relevant details.

Step 2: Ask the First Why, Then Repeat 4 Times

Once you have identified the problem, ask yourself:

"Why is this a problem?" Write down your answer.
Then ask "Why?" again.
Repeat this process until you have asked "Why?" five times.

Step 3: Analyze the Causes

As you ask the "Why?" questions, you will begin to uncover the underlying causes of the problem.

For each answer, ask yourself whether it is a root cause or just a symptom of the problem.

If it is a root cause, move on to the next "Why?" question.
If it is a symptom, go back to the previous "Why?" question and ask again.

Step 4: Find Solutions

Once you have identified the root cause(s) of the problem, it's time to find solutions.

Write down several possible solutions for each root cause, and then evaluate them based on their feasibility and potential impact.

Step 5: Implement Solutions

The final step is to implement the solutions that you have identified.

Choose the solution(s) that you believe will have the greatest impact, and put a plan in place to put them into action.

Here’s how I applied this exercise:

Why did I sign up for Supercharge Your Productivity?

To reduce the “noise” in my approach to productivity and regain focus around my top priorities.

Why do I need to focus on my top priorities?

If I don’t focus on my top priorities, I will get stuck on a treadmill of low-value work & cheap dopamine.

Why does it matter to not be stuck on a treadmill of low-value work?

If I’m stuck doing low-value work, it means I’m not progressing toward my goals and wasting time that I could be spending with my family.

Why do I need to make sure I don’t waste time I could be spending with my family?

I’ll never get back the time that I miss watching my daughter growing up and living out my healthy years in a happy marriage.

Why do I want to make family the focus of my life?

My most fulfilling moments come from building a happy life with my family. I never want to lose sight of that.

My answer to the first Why was about productivity & focus.

My answer to the fifth Why got all the way down to why I do any work in the first place…so I can build a happy life with my family.

Now the real work begins…If I say my family is the focus of my life, then my actions need to align with this.

At least I know what I’m aiming for…

The 5 Whys: An Exercise To Align Your Goals With Your Intentions

Last week I kicked off another cohort-based program called Supercharge Your Productivity [

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