The most difficult question #6

How are you?

It has been a while.

3 months since my last article.

I will get back to writing. More frequently.

There is a lot to share. Experiences, adventures, stories, thoughts and learnings.

About life and business.

Today´s article is about the question:

How are you?

It is the question I get asked the most. And it is the most difficult question to answer.

The fast food story in the desert

As I drove through the scorching Mojave Desert in California in August 2023, my rental car's air conditioner struggled to maintain a bearable temperature. It was 43 degrees outside.

Sunrise in the Mojave Desert in California, USA.

After a long day on the road en route to the Grand Canyon, I became famished. Unfortunately, options for food were scarce, particularly in the desert. I eventually pulled up to the drive-thru of a Burger King on the highway and placed my order. As I pulled up to the first window, I was asked THE most common question in the US:

“How are you?”

Burger King somewhere in the Mojave Desert, California, USA

The Burger King employee waited for my response. I replied, “Very well, thanks”.

But that moment was not about me. It was about the woman's answer when I returned the question to her “How are you”?

She replied, “I am doing what I can”

Burger King employee somewhere in the Mojave Desert, California, USA

It struck me. It was said in such a sincere and honest tone. A genuine conversation ensued, and I was curious about what kept her motivated. It was a brief encounter that lasted only a minute, but it left a lasting impression on me. Yet, it keeps on inspiring me.

Regardless of whether we are employees or entrepreneurs, we all work, eat, and engage in various activities outside of work, such as sports, family time, cleaning, cooking, and more. We go on vacations, sleep, and repeat the cycle. In addition, personal and professional issues and challenges often arise on top, resulting in good, bad, and mediocre days.

“Let them eat burgers”

Karl Nehammer, counsellor of Austria, in a recent video

In today's world, where we are frequently pulled in different directions and expected to do more and more, many people struggle to keep up. Rather than making statements like those made by Karl Nehammer, the Austrian counsellor, suggesting that people work even more and low-income families eat at McDonald's due to the affordability of their food, we should be kinder to ourselves and accept that we are doing the best we can.

Fun fact: This is the date when I created the first draft of this article. And it is still far from perfect but I decided “I am doing what I can”

Change your perspective

I've since started using the phrase "doing what I can" more frequently. It has become a conversation starter, allowing people to delve deeper into my feelings and struggles. In a world where we are endlessly connected but not truly connected, genuine connections are what we all crave.

I encourage you to change your response to "How are you?" and see how it affects your perspective.

What do you think? Share your experiences in the comments.

At the notary this week to finally sign the deed of incorporation for my own company after some administrative hiccups: “doing what I can”

The following articles will be about “the hardest realization” since I quit my job and about the “one-day” story.