Silicon Valleys Obsession with Meditation
In mid-July I published a LinkedIn Pulse post identifying ‘5 Podcasts You Must Subscribe To’. These outlined excellent Podcasts which I am tuned in to right now. In that list were two series: One developed by Lewis Howes (The School of Greatness) and the other Tim Ferriss (The Tim Ferriss Show).
Over the recent few months in their interviews, there has been overwhelming views from those they were interviewing of the benefits, both emotional and physical, of meditation. The interviewees are generally senior leaders in Silicon Valley and almost always, when answering the question “What would you advise the 30 year old you?”, state meditating more as a key piece of advice. Interesting. Being a 29 year old self, its something which had never really crossed my mind.
A Google Search later and a highly sought after programme appeared which Googlers are generally advised to take up, at the expense of the Google hierarchy. This is the ‘Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute’. Developed and led by Chade Meng Tan of Google, the reviews from the programme are astounding. Needless to say, an order has been placed for Chade’s book to read more and a pre-registerion for the programme has been made.
What has really got me intrigued in all of these recommendations for meditation is just how powerful this stuff REALLY is! Have a listen to Lewis Howes most recent Five Minute Friday podcast ‘Attitude of Gratitude’. Listening yesterday really brought my mind back into the now and created a warm feeling of content. Weird! In a good way. That was only from one five minute podcast! My partner also agreed.
Whilst evidently from their interviews, there is an obsession with meditation within Silicon Valley. One which in the early stages of listening in were brushed off as being nothing of significance. But having listened and read more and more into this, there are evidently underlying benefits.
Looking back in a trip to China a few years and visits to numerous Buddhist Temples, the sense of relaxation amongst the monks and general worshippers hits home a little more.
Check-out both Lewis’ and Tim’s podcast series. They are truly inspirational. Not just in this sense but listening in to advice from World Leaders and generally people who have been there, done it and got the T-Shirts.
Having zero incentive to plug this, given what Lewis’ podcasts have opened my eyes to, find a link below to check-out his site to purchase his upcoming book. If its anything like his Podcasts, there is no doubt it will be a fantastic read!
Stephen Baines is a Management Consultant and MBA student currently working for Hewlett-Packard and studying at Manchester Business School. The views within this post are explicitly those of Stephen and have no representation of any organisation Stephen represents. If you wish to contact Stephen, please contact him via LinkedIn or his Twitter handle (@baines1986)
