Mike Provance, PhD, CEO, 3x3, (New York, USA)

Years in the industry:
Four years in the industry, admittedly, I could count driving a delivery truck for Newbury Wines in Boston in college. But, then I had a 25 year plus hiatus to focus on building software and data businesses across industries, creating 3x3grow ‑ a data-driven shopper engagement partner for brands and retailers in the beer, wine and spirits industry. We blend marketing technology with expert insight to help them connect with shoppers who will love their products.

My top three challenges to wellness:
1) My first priority and biggest Sisyphean challenge is maintaining and improving my mental health. I believe it’s the cornerstone to all other forms of wellness.
2) Making a massive change to my diet in order to accelerate physical wellness goals.
3) Consistently working out. I believe in anaerobic health ahead of aerobic health because it creates downstream benefits to mental health -- feel better and move more freely --> feel better mentally and emotionally --> have more energy to devote to increasing aerobic health and stamina.

How I keep it together to stay well:
Previously a skeptic of holistic medicine but also a believer in the concept of energy in Eastern philosophy, I took up yoga in 2005 to navigate some challenging moments. That change removed the skepticism and set me on a very crooked path of wellness.

In the last few years, I have a) doubled down on learning more deeply across many competing philosophies to develop one composite philosophy suited to me and to my daily life, b) invested in a daily meditation practice that I weave throughout each day to counteract the various and random sources of stress that appear, and c) do my best to practice “being water” as Bruce Lee puts it. Life becomes infinitely easier when one makes space for conflict and challenge and lets them pass through.

What inspires me:
While a bit cheeky, I recently reacquainted myself with the philosophical ideas posed by Bruce Lee and it had a profound impact on how I manage, live, and treat those who I let in close to me. I’d call that inspiration. But, beyond that I am inspired by how infinitesimally small and inconsequential humanity is in the grand scale of the universe -- that lack of permanence creates permission to be. Finally, as a multi-modal thinker, learner, and teacher, I am inspired by unique and unexpected design and creativity when it tackles difficult ideas or concepts.

A quote I love:
Two quotes really, both connecting mindset to water:
“... all things pass and nothing stays, and comparing existing things to the flow of a river ... you could not step twice into the same river.” (Plato quoting Heraclitus)

“Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” (Bruce Lee)

You can connect with Mike on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.