Unsure about career path or what to do in life? This CEO's 'genie question' strategy might help

Graham Weaver noted that patience and perseverance were critical to his achievements.

Graham Weaver, the founder and CEO of Alpine Investors, has built a reputation not just for his acumen in private equity but also for the guidance he offers to students in his Stanford class. While his course primarily focuses on strategies for growing businesses, Weaver often finds himself addressing more profound questions about life and career decisions.

Speaking on a recent episode of "Lenny's Podcast", Weaver revealed that students frequently approach him, not with queries about business strategies, but about how to navigate their own lives. To help them, he often prescribes exercises that provided clarity in his own journey, chief among them being the "genie question."

Weaver described a common scenario where students present him with two potential career paths. Typically, option A appears more practical and stable, while option B represents a choice they are passionate about but fear pursuing.

"First, I try to let them realise that their real energy is for B. Just let them feel that and understand that," Weaver said. "Then, I work to identify the limiting beliefs holding them back—the fears or obstacles in their way."

He noted that external pressures, such as societal expectations or fear of failure, often push individuals toward what they think they should do rather than what they truly desire. Weaver emphasised that such choices can lead to a life lived on autopilot, where individuals go through the motions without enthusiasm, often resulting in increased anxiety and dissatisfaction.

To help students confront these fears, Weaver encourages them to imagine a scenario in which a genie guarantees their success in any chosen career.

"If that were true, and you had that genie blessing you with that wish, what would you wish for?" he asked. "The answer is often what they would do if failure weren’t an option. And that’s what they should pursue."

Weaver acknowledged that financial and practical constraints are real concerns. To address these, he advises breaking down challenges into smaller, manageable steps and writing them down.

"When you get it down on paper, it will almost immediately strip that limiting belief of a lot of its power and scariness," he explained. "What once seemed overwhelming becomes a to-do list item, like 'How would I fund this?'"

This method, he said, transforms daunting hurdles into actionable tasks, making it easier to focus on solutions rather than fears.

Weaver stressed that success is rarely immediate and that unrealistic expectations for quick results often lead to failure. "The missing ingredient in most of the people that fail is time," he said. "You have to go in with the mindset and the structural ability to stay at it for a long period."

Reflecting on his own journey, Weaver noted that patience and perseverance were critical to his achievements. Without these, his career might have been "a museum of failures."

Weaver highlighted that any significant life improvement often begins with discomfort, whether it involves getting in shape, leaving a bad relationship, or pursuing a desired career.

"The first move is negative," he said. "But the discomfort is worth it because it sets you on a path toward a better life."

Weaver urged his students—and anyone seeking clarity in life—to take the time to define their vision of an extraordinary life.

"Take the time to really figure out and answer the question, 'What does a wonderful, amazing, incredible life look like?'" he said. "And get as clear as you possibly can on that."

For Weaver, the key to a fulfilling life lies in aligning passion with action and embracing the patience and persistence needed to make dreams a reality. "We only get one life," he concluded. "Start making the most of it before 'not now' becomes 'not ever.'"