A quick exercise with AI to determine your "why"

I’m a big fan of Kieran Drew.

Since nearly the beginning of this journey, I can safely say that I resonated much more with him than Dan Koe or Justin Welsh. While I’ve purchased at least one course from all three, Kieran’s is the one that I keep coming back to buy from again and again. In fact, I think I’ve bought just about every single one of his courses since since 2023.

I just started his 1% Writer Program, a 33-day program in which I’ll retread a good chunk of what I’ve already learned from him.

I took the Day 1 exercise that is meant to get us to answer the question “Why do I write?”

As I’ve already ironed it out, I wanted to see just how well I could respond to his questions and distill it down into a simple statement.

Again with this set of questions, I adhered to my one rule: no filter, just write.

Then, I threw it at ChatGPT with a prompt to ask it to boil it down to a few simple statements.

I’m sharing the results here.

The questionnaire

• What kind of life do you want?

• What do you to be known for?

• Why are you building this business?

• Who do you want to help—and why do you care?

• What would make this business feel worth it, even if it takes years?

• What does success actually look like—beyond the superficial stuff?

• What problems or skills fire you up that you’d work on them even if you weren’t paid?

The AI prompt

"You are an expert writer with years of experience. Please take the following responses 7 questions and compress them down to a single paragraph that encapsulates them for a powerful and inspiring message that is compelling and intriguing.

The questions and responses are provided below the dotted lines.

-------------------------------------------------------
[insert text here]"

My responses

• What kind of life do you want?

I want a life where I can do what I want to do when I want to do for the people I wan to do it for and not have to worry about whether or not it is going to make a difference...because I know that it will.

• What do you to be known for?

I want to be known for being a Renaissance Man who can see connections across a large number of disciplines. Not just because I can connect dots and find commonalities between things but also because I've actually done all the things that I make connections between and among. I want to be recognized as someone who can take anything and teach it effectively because I both walked the walk and talk the talk.

• Why are you building this business?

I need an outlet to improve my critical thinking. I'm passionate about self-improvement for the sake of making a positive impact on the world. I'm an idealist who cares about my family and my community, and I want to believe that the good that I do on a local level can inspire others to do the same.

• Who do you want to help—and why do you care?

I want to help people like me. People who have a 9-5 and a family and are wanting to commit to living fulfilling lives while building a digital footprint; an heirloom based on their beliefs, values, and skills. Leaving a lasting legacy behind as a reference for those that they love is what I want to help them do. The best part about that is the fact that enhances their lives on so many levels as well.

• What would make this business feel worth it, even if it takes years?

Knowing that I have not only mastered myself and understand who I am, but also knowing that I've shared enough so that others can do the same for themselves.

• What does success actually look like—beyond the superficial stuff?

Deep fulfillment and understanding of what makes us unique, what drives us forward, and what we want to leave behind for future generations to study. I want to do something profound but also simple. I'm on the path towards learning more about myself and what I love to do in life. I've explored across multiple disciplines and gained experience across so many areas. It's only now that I'm beginning to see the patterns and connections among them.

• What problems or skills fire you up that you’d work on them even if you weren’t paid?

When I read about people struggling with learning and education and lack of awareness, it compels me to want to help them. I like to make people laugh and get a response from making references to cultural aspects that make them think first and laugh later. I'm inspired by those who want to learn more about themselves despite all the challenges they face. It doesn't matter whether they're well off or struggling to make ends meet. Sooner or later, their curiosity is what pays off in the end.

What AI provided

“I’m building a life—and a business—that reflects a deep desire to serve, inspire, and leave a meaningful legacy. As a Renaissance Man at heart, I’ve spent years weaving together skills from diverse disciplines, not just in theory but in practice, with the mission of teaching and uplifting others. My passion lies in helping everyday people—especially those juggling work and family—live fuller, more intentional lives by documenting their values, beliefs, and growth in ways that can outlive them. Even if it takes years, the reward is clear: mastery of self, clarity of purpose, and a lasting digital heirloom that lights the path for others. Whether I’m solving complex problems, making people think and laugh, or simply connecting with those seeking more, I do it not for accolades, but because it feeds the fire within and contributes to something greater than myself.”

Not bad, but I wanted it to be a bit shorter with a mission statement.

Here’s the additional prompt based on this result:

Thank you so much! Can you reduce the response a little bit more and adding a mission statement at the end?

Here’s what it came up with:

“I'm building a life of purpose, freedom, and impact—one where my experiences across disciplines become tools to teach, inspire, and connect. I want to help people like me—working parents striving for meaning—create a digital legacy rooted in their values, skills, and self-discovery. Whether through humor, insight, or service, I’m driven by the belief that even small, local acts of growth can ripple outward. The ultimate reward is not recognition, but fulfillment—and knowing I’ve helped others find clarity and purpose in their own lives.

My mission: To help everyday people transform their lived experiences into a meaningful digital heirloom—one that educates, empowers, and endures.

Would you like a version that works as a homepage bio or social media profile too?”

This is one of the nicest features about AI…it offers up a next step.

Naturally, I was curious to see what it would come up with so I said ‘yes’.

“I help working parents and lifelong learners turn their lived experiences into a lasting digital legacy. As a modern-day Renaissance Man, I connect the dots across disciplines to teach, inspire, and empower others to define life on their terms. I believe self-mastery leads to shared impact—and that your story deserves to outlive you.

Mission:
To help everyday people transform their experiences, values, and insights into digital heirlooms that educate, empower, and endure.”

Hey, not bad!

I’m not one to let AI provide my words for me, so I tinkered with this final result along with the previous responses to improve my “why”.

Only the first step…

This is the latest in a long line of iterations for my mission statement.

As you can see for yourself, each time I’ve gone through the process has yielded a little more clarity. The more work you put into figuring out what you stand for and who you are, the easier it is to respond to questions about your objectives in life.

Try it out and see for yourself!

I’ll be going through the course, but it’s time to get back on the wagon and start my next 7-day series: self-expression through the arts.