Organizations know something very important. Strategy without safeguards does not last. That is why, beyond goals and plans, companies build systems that help them notice when something is off — before damage is done. In The Method, I explain that our lives work similarly. Purpose alone is not enough. Strategy alone is not enough; it doesn’t lead us to the correct place.

What keeps us aligned are safeguards, and we are so lucky for them. Unlike businesses, we don’t need to invent them. We already have them. They show up as signals and as questions.

Not typical questions we answer once, but the ones we return to when decisions feel heavy, or even confusing. Four of them matter deeply and are easy to recognize if you are conscious during your day:

How does my body feel? The body is never neutral. It speaks through energy, tension, ease, or exhaustion. OMG it’s our biggest safeguard. Have open eyes and heart to listen to it.

Is there flow? Is life moving with me or am I constantly pushing against resistance? Do I feel lucky which means that everything somehow works or not?

Are there synchronicities? This is so important. Do people, opportunities, or signals appear in ways that feel meaningfully connected but you don’t understand why?

Does life feel authentic to you? Because if a path does not align with who you are, no strategy will make it work and it doesn’t matter if you want this or not.

These questions are practical safeguards. They protect us from staying too long in what no longer fits. They help us adjust before burnout and lead us to the next step.

Strategy, in this sense, is not about forcing outcomes. It is about listening well enough to stay aligned and always ACT.

Perhaps reflection begins here: Which of these questions have you been listening to lately? Which one has gone quiet?