What is a Good Life?

On the 109th episode of What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Fabrice Desmarescaux. Fabrice is a seasoned partner at McKinsey & Company, on a transformative journey of leadership evolution. With a rich background in integrating Eastern spiritual traditions into Western management, Fabrice works closely with CEOs and teams to elevate performance and consciousness. In a world grappling with complexity, his approach focuses on fundamental human elements—happiness, connection, and purpose. He is the author of The Art of Retreats, a guide for expanding consciousness through short personal retreats, which introduces a groundbreaking approach for business leaders facing the challenges of a fragmented, high-pressure, and complex world. 

In this insightful conversation, Fabrice shares his journey of self-discovery and reinvention, exploring the evolving questions of meaning, purpose, and fulfilment as we move through life. He reflects on the shift from success to significance, the contrast between commitment and drifting, and the challenges of control and acceptance in our careers. He discusses integrating spirituality into his professional life, emphasising that finding purpose is an experiential journey rather than an intellectual one.

This conversation invites you to reflect on what truly matters, experiment with life, and tune into your embodied experience in the search for meaning.

For further content and information check out the following:
- Fabrice's website & book: https://www.desmarescaux.com/
- Fabrice's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabrice-desmarescaux/

- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos
- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/
- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/
- The Silent Conversations: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-silent-conversations

Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week Silent Conversation group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.

00:00 Navigating the Second Half of Life
06:06 The Shift from Success to Significance
09:13 Wisdom and Perspective in Aging
12:01 Control and Acceptance in Professional Life
15:01 Awakening to Meaning and Fulfilment
17:58 The Process of Reinvention
20:50 Navigating Change and Loss
23:53 The Importance of Reflection and Processing
26:54 Spiritual Exploration and Personal Growth
34:39 The Journey of Self-Discovery
37:27 Integrating Spirituality into Professional Life
39:58 The Importance of Purpose and Meaning
42:11 Commitment vs. Drifting in Life
48:20 Finding Purpose Through Experience
01:02:31 What is a good life for Fabrice?

What is What is a Good Life??

Over the last three years, I've interviewed nearly 300 people around the question of "What is a good life?" I am not trying to find or prescribe universal answers to this question; instead, I aim to prompt your own inquiry into what constitutes a good life for you. I am also trying to share more genuine expressions of the human experience, beyond the masks that we wear.