Getting to Neutral summary

The first step to shifting to neutral is simply this: Ask yourself, ‘what is the next thing I need to do?’ And one person who exemplifies this is Si France, owner and CEO of Welbe Health.

Welbe Health is a company that allows seniors to live at home with access to 24/7 care without having to move into a nursing home. When COVID-19 hit, Welbe’s clientele was one of the most vulnerable populations. France could easily have become overwhelmed trying to care for them. But he used the concept of neutral thinking, distilling instructions for his employees to a simple daily checklist: Read the day’s plan; do what you are assigned; care for your loved ones. 

You may have heard of Navy Admiral William McRaven’s famous speech to the University of Texas graduating class of 2014. The speech, which has since become a viral sensation, teaches students ten lessons that McRaven learned during Navy SEAL training that can help them change the world. 

The first one? “Make your bed.”

As the author progressed through his C-word diagnosis and treatment, he learned how to get through the process neutrally. His success had a lot to do with preparation. 

Before a big procedure, he made sure to not overload himself with information. He took in only what he needed to know to get through this next step. Even while sitting in a doctor’s office, he purposely chose to sit in a specific chair so that he could avoid looking at computer screens that might overwhelm him with test results. Before a major surgery, he spent the evening watching Cinderella Man, the movie where Russell Crowe plays a boxer who fought his way back into a championship after being forced to spend years away. He chose this movie deliberately. 

In 1989, American journalist Maria Shriver became pregnant with her oldest child. She wanted to take maternity leave, but was told that such a thing didn’t exist. If she took time off, she would probably lose her job. So she didn’t.

Although Shriver had no choice in the matter at the time – maternity leave became protected by law a few years later – now that she is a leader, she chooses to lead her employees very differently. One crucial component that she uses daily is emotional intelligence checks – in other words, how is everyone feeling?

Rather than harmful negativity or toxic positivity, the best and most productive mental state to inhabit is a neutral one. Neutrality means learning from the past but understanding that your next result can be different. It also means cultivating habits based on your core values, and preparing in the right way. 

When you’re living in neutral yourself, you can also help those around you to reach neutrality. This way, you can all steer through life’s many challenges with calm and clarity.