Priority Living: 7 Pillars to Make Your Life Count

#LeadandLift | Episode 140 | Bill Goodwin

What if the way you’re living right now isn’t actually helping you make your life count, even if you’re working hard and “doing all the right things”?

In this episode of Lead and Lift, I sit down with leadership expert Bill Goodwin, whose life nearly ended 26 years ago, but gave him a second chance to uncover the secrets to a life of purpose, impact, and balance. We dive into his new book, Priority Living: Seven Pillars to Make Your Life Count, and reveal the unexpected pillars that can help you lead better, grow stronger, and live fully without burning out.

A Second Chance That Changed Everything

Nearly 26 years ago, Bill faced a near-death experience after a severe asthma attack. That moment and the second chance it gave him reshaped his entire outlook on life. As he shared:

“You don’t have to die to want to make your life count.”  Bill Goodwin 

His new book is the culmination of decades of reflection, growth, and intentional living, offering a practical and spiritual roadmap for leading a purpose-driven life.

The Seven Pillars of Priority Living

We dove into some of the key pillars from Bill’s framework, including Purpose, Growth, Impact, and one of my favorites — Rhythm. Bill explained that rhythm is about balancing work and rest, moving away from “crazy busy” living toward a more sustainable and intentional pace.

I shared my perspective on the importance of clarity in purpose:

“If you don’t take the time to understand or get clarity on that purpose, then you’re going to drift through life. You’re not going to be the one driving through your life and owning it.”  Chabidaye Jaglal Ramnath 

Bill reminded us that purpose isn’t something that magically appears it’s something we uncover through action, reflection, and coaching. Once purpose is clarified, growth and impact naturally follow.

Managing Energy and Avoiding Burnout

We also talked about burnout and the toll it takes on our energy and well-being.  Bill shared a concept that deeply resonated with me that we should work from rest, not rest from work.

I expanded on that by connecting it to high-performance principles:

“You only have a certain amount of energy per day, and how you manage that energy determines how effective you are. High performers maintain their energy because they build in rest throughout the day.” Chabidaye Jaglal Ramnath 

This rhythm of rest and work ensures productivity while preventing depletion, allowing leaders to operate at their best consistently.

Bill’s message was a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t just about leading others it’s about leading yourself well first. As he put it, “Direction is more important than speed.”

The Power of Personal Development Early On

One of the highlights of our conversation was how early personal development can shape lifelong leaders. I shared how I encourage my children to engage with personal growth from a young age:

“It’s such a blessing to introduce kids to personal development early on. We can use these lessons to grow them up and coach them through life.” Chabidaye Jaglal Ramnath 

This principle extends to all leaders whether guiding a team, a family, or oneself intentional learning and reflection set the foundation for lasting success.

Living Intentionally Today

We closed our conversation with a reminder that life is precious and the time to act is now. Bill encouraged everyone:

“You can make the rest of your life the best of your life.” Bill Goodwin 

And I couldn’t agree more:

“So many of us take this blessed life for granted and wait for a second or third chance but we may not be that lucky. The time to be intentional and lead your life is now.” Chabidaye Jaglal Ramnath 

Bill’s Priority Living framework offers guidance for anyone ready to live with purpose, create impact, and build a sustainable rhythm that nurtures both work and life.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• Clarify Your Purpose: Take intentional action, ask questions, and reflect to discover your “why” it’s the foundation for everything else.
• Balance Energy and Rhythm: Work from rest, not rest from work. Build intentional pauses into your day to maintain high performance and avoid burnout.
• Lead and Give Back: Leadership is about adding value to others, growing yourself, and making a measurable impact in the lives around you.

Links mentioned in this episode: 

• Chabidaye Facebook
• Chabidaye Instagram
• Chabidaye LinkedIn
• Chabidaye Website