“It changed my life literally overnight.”
~Louis Gagnon, CEO of MyBrainSolutions and former executive at Audible Inc.
After taking The Happiness Program, Louis became a champion of meditation in the workplace, and has noted increased collaboration among his employees in his various roles. He now feels we can only reach our highest potential as individuals and leaders if we find peace of mind.
Here’s his story, as reported by The Huffington Post:
Louis Gagnon, CEO of MyBrainSolutions, on an Art of Living meditation retreat
Louis Gagnon, CEO of MyBrainSolutions and former executive at the audio content company Audible Inc., is eschewing the usual tech and entrepreneurship conference circuit for a rather unconventional sort of speaking engagement.
Gagnon flew to New Delhi to speak to students from around the world about creating global harmony and inner peace through the practice of meditation. At the World Culture Festival‘s Global Youth Leadership Forum over the weekend, he shared his view that we can only reach our highest potential as individuals and leaders if we find peace of mind.
The social entrepreneur’s fascination with mindfulness — the practice of cultivating a focused awareness on the present moment — started at a very young age. Growing up in Quebec, Gagnon visited the Benedictine monastery Abbaye Saint-Benoît-du-Lac every year to spend several days in silent reflection with the monks.
“I’ve always been a seeker — someone who had an interest in spirituality, philosophy and well-being, widely defined,” he says.
Gagnon’s early spiritual seeking ultimately led him to Eastern philosophy and meditation. Yet it was a fateful meeting with Indian guru and Art of Living founder Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar that changed his life forever. Through Shankar’s teachings, he learned the power of breathing for the first time, and decided to take up a long-term, daily meditation practice.
“My experience was dramatic and immediate,” he said. “It changed my life literally overnight.”
Louis Gagnon
It didn’t take long for Gagnon to transform from a stressed-out corporate executive who neglected his health and well-being into a purpose-driven leader who runs five miles, practices meditation and breathing exercises, and reads about spirituality every day.
Gagnon is part of a growing tide of executives — including Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini, entrepreneur Marc Benioff, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, doctor and philanthropist Larry Brilliant, Bridgewater hedge fund founder Ray Dalio and The Huffington Post’s Arianna Huffington — who say that they use meditation to maintain their competitive edge. What these executives know from experience, science has confirmed: Meditation can boost focus and productivity, reduce stress, improve sleep quality and aid in creative problem-solving and effective leadership.
Of course, not everyone has the luxury of creating their own schedule around their meditation practice. But Gagnon insists that anyone can learn to use the breath as a tool to anchor themselves in the present moment.
“Whenever you find that your mind is agitated or the stress is high, take a moment to take a deep breath in while putting all of your attention on it,” he said. “Feel how the air in gives you energy and how the air out makes you relax. Realize that when you are fully aware of your breathing, you are fully present.”
Now, Gagnon’s sharing what he’s learned with his employees. He is a champion of meditation in the workplace, and says that the practice has helped him and his teams stay calm, focused and productive.
That prioritization of mindfulness seems to be working. Gagnon has noted increased collaboration among his employees in his various roles. He had taken teams on meditation retreats and taught them about mindful leadership, but it’s not just about sitting and breathing. He tries to give his employees the tools and freedom they need to continue learning and growing — not just at work, but in all areas of their lives.
Louis Gagnon
“There is lower turnover, higher collaboration and higher output because people are relaxed and centered. People are more happy and they love to go to work,” he said. “It’s the creation of that virtuous circle that corporate America very badly needs.”
But is the mindful, compassionate approach to business fundamentally at odds with the American corporate ethos of more, better, faster? Gagnon doesn’t think it has to be — and in fact, the future demands that corporations take a new approach.
The takeaway? Success in business is about more than just the company’s bottom line.
“Invest in people and give them the means to be happier,” Gagnon said.
Article originally posted in The Huffington Post
Curious why The Happiness Program is so transformative and how it affects your mental and physical health? Check out this Infographic on the Scientific Benefits of Sudarshan Kriya.
