The Foundation of Everything
Hey Founder,
In the welcome email, we introduced the concept of the Inner Game as the invisible foundation for Outer Game success.
Today, let’s start with the first—and perhaps most important—building block of that foundation.
What’s holding you back right now?
You might think of misaligned expectations…
Ineffective growth strategies…
Team and leadership bottlenecks…
Or a to-do list that makes you feel stretched too thin, with too many hats to wear.
But the root of it may not be what you think.
It All Starts With a Lack of Presence.
Presence isn’t just about mindfulness—it’s the foundation for making better decisions, leading effectively, and thriving in uncertainty.
What Exactly Does It Mean To Be Present?
Being present involves having your attention on what’s actually happening in the moment, seeing reality clearly and choosing the response most aligned with your authentic self and intentions.
Most people, however, are not present most of the time. Humans are wired to perceive threat, often unconsciously drifting into a state where reality is seen through a distorted lens of fear.
When you’re not present, you often experience life entirely in your head—seeing your current situation as a problem or imagining future ones to avoid or solve.
In your fear, you try to feel safe by gaining control and certainty—over things that are inherently uncertain and uncontrollable. All of this typically happens unconsciously, meaning you’re largely unaware of what’s truly happening or driving you.
You’re caught in a cycle of perceiving reality through the stories, thoughts, and beliefs conditioned by your past, endlessly replaying in your mind.
These stories feel true. But they’re not.
You think you’re responding to reality. But you’re not.
Carl Jung once said: "Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate."
Presence is the first step to making the unconscious conscious.
And as long as you’re unconsciously operating from these old stories and patterns, they’ll continue to shape your life without you even realizing it.
But when you practice presence, you fully engage with the current moment—free from distractions, judgments, or mental narratives—which allows you to respond authentically to what’s actually here, now.
Here’s What It Can Look Like
- During a meeting, you’re actively listening to your team instead of checking your phone or rehearsing your response in your head.
- While walking outside, you’re noticing the breeze, the sound of birds, and the rhythm of your steps, rather than replaying a past conversation.
- As a founder, you’re focusing on the task at hand instead of being distracted by anxieties about the company’s future or past mistakes.
Being present isn’t about eliminating thoughts or emotions but about observing them without attachment, allowing you to engage fully with life as it unfolds.
It’s been said that “Your mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master.” Being present allows you to choose which thoughts to listen to and engage with, and which to ignore.
Being present is also about feeling all of your feelings, instead of repressing or denying feelings, or escaping into your mind.
Which empowers you to lead with clarity, make better decisions, and stay grounded under pressure—unlocking your potential to scale your business with confidence.
Why Presence Is So Powerful
Presence anchors you in reality—and that alone is transformative.
But its true power lies in what happens next:
When you see reality clearly, you begin to see through the lies.
With practice, presence becomes like a muscle you strengthen over time.
And with that strength, you start to recognize the falsehoods:
The inner voice saying, “You’re not enough” or, “You’re going to fail,” is simply not true.
Presence helps you distinguish between what’s real and what’s imagined.
You begin to notice when your mind is interpreting reality instead of simply observing it.
Which means, when you and your team prioritize presence, everyone begins to see reality more clearly...
And the team that sees reality clearest wins.
But How Do You Cultivate Presence When Your Mind Feels So Loud?
A Simple, Powerful Practice to Get Present
Here’s one of my favorite techniques to ground yourself in the present moment:
1. 4x4 Breathing
- Inhale deeply for 4 seconds.
- Exhale slowly for 4 seconds.
- And do this inhale and exhale for 4 repetitions (takes 32 seconds).
2. Engage Your Senses
- Notice your physical surroundings.
- Feel the weight of your body in your chair.
- Listen to the subtle sounds.
- See the details in your environment you often overlook.
3. Redirect Without Judgment
- When your mind inevitably pulls you back into its stories and thoughts, don’t judge it.
- Gently guide your focus back to your senses.
- Just observe the experience.
This practice reminds you that in this moment:
You are okay.
You are safe.
There is nothing to fear.
Block out a few minutes on your calendar right now for dedicated presence or give this exercise a try today before every meeting you have.
It’s only 32 seconds.
You might be surprised how much shifts when you reconnect with the here and now.
Make the unconscious conscious. Begin winning the Inner Game.
Much love,
- Dave Kashen
P.S. Stay tuned for next Sunday as we dive deeper into the principles of Conscious Leadership. Once you implement this into your life, it doesn’t just rapidly transform your startup—it also ripples out to everyone around you.
