Les Watson, a time management, productivity and small business coach, joins Niiamah Ashong on the Outlier's Edge Podcast to talk about finding his life's purpose and helping leaders reach their next level. He shares how a single why question, asked again and again, led him to name his purpose after 50 years. What emerged is a simple practice for leaders: look at yourself first, be supportable, and ask for the support you need.
Episode at a glance
- Guest: Les Watson, Time management, productivity and small business coach
- Host: Niiamah Ashong, coach to outlier leaders
- Show: Outlier’s Edge Podcast, released June 7, 2022
- Format: conversation, 44 minutes
- Topics: Finding your life's purpose, The why question, Self-reflection as a leader, Being supportable and asking for help, Ego and receiving support, Creating products that stand on their own
What Les brought to the conversation
Les Watson helps leaders fine-tune themselves so they can create change, by looking at what is working, what isn't, and what they can do differently. He works with everyone from multinationals to the corner store, with a focus on entrepreneurs, solopreneurs and small business owners who are ready for the next level. When his face-to-face work was shut down, he moved a program online, ran it five times in a year, and turned it into a coaching program built on about 90 videos. He also wrote the manuscript for his book over 12 months, a little bit every day, and is now creating new products on goal setting and goal attainment.
What emerged
The central idea is that purpose comes from a process, not a two-hour workshop. Les Watson found his when his wife kept asking him why he does what he does until he landed on a single phrase: he does it to bring life. Niiamah Ashong drew out that the real work is carving out time to treat the question seriously, with someone who brings deep curiosity. On support, Les Watson noticed that in a room everyone is willing to give support and almost no one is willing to ask, and he names the ego as what gets in the way.
Questions this episode answers
How can a leader find their life's purpose?
Les Watson says it is a process, and most people are never shown one. He found his by sitting down with his wife, who kept asking why he does what he does until he reached a single word or phrase at the core, and he encourages people not to let go until they find it.
Is it too late to find your purpose later in life?
Les Watson found his purpose at 50 and says the same structure of questions can be given to someone at 18 or at 50. He also notes people take it in at different speeds: in one couple he worked with, one partner found their purpose in an hour and the other took three weeks.
Why do leaders find it hard to ask for support?
Les Watson points to the ego, the puffed chest that says everything is fine when it isn't, and the worry that others will think less of you. He says leaders need to notice when the ego gets in the way and let it go.
What are the keys to getting support as a leader?
Les Watson names two: be supportable, by letting in the support people are already offering, and ask for it. He surrounds himself with groups, chambers of commerce and a monthly business group where he can ask the hard questions.
Why should leaders start with self-reflection?
Les Watson says the way to stand out is to look at yourself and ask what is working, what isn't, and what you can do differently, so you become an example others can follow. Niiamah Ashong adds that looking at yourself is one of the shortest paths to whatever outcome a leader wants.
In their words
I do it to bring life.
Les Watson
Number one is be supportable and number two is ask for it.
Les Watson
Everyone's willing to give support and no one's wanting to ask.
Les Watson
Key moments
03:07 – Fine-tuning leaders to create change
06:46 – Made a manager without training
09:22 – Starting his company again
11:25 – Finding his purpose at 50
12:27 – His purpose is to bring life
18:40 – Finding your own truth
22:49 – Taking a program online
25:24 – Writing a book in 12 months
29:03 – Surrounding himself with support
33:46 – When the ego gets in the way
About Niiamah Ashong
Niiamah Ashong is a coach to outlier leaders, host of the Outlier’s Edge Podcast, and founder of the Trailblazer Collective. He coaches leaders who are creating something only they can make: a company, a body of work or a movement. Make a difference with your difference.
Work with Niiamah: 1:1 with Niiamah | World of Difference
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