49 Days to Think About Life on Purpose: From Stroke Survivor to Certified High-Performance Coach

From Stroke to Strategy: Why One Hour Can Change Your Life
By Pete Kane

I had 49 days to think.

Not by choice—but by force. A major stroke had knocked me flat. Everything stopped. My calendar cleared itself. My priorities flipped. And for 49 days, I was left alone with one relentless question:

How am I going to live my life differently?

That stroke wasn’t the end of my life—it was the beginning of my second chance. It gave me a new kind of clarity. A new vision. One that was louder than fear, stronger than doubt, and bolder than anything I’d allowed myself to imagine before.

Be bold. Make an impact. Have fun. Bring the joy.

Before the stroke, I was stuck on what I now call the “Busy Bus.” You know the one—it’s always in motion, always noisy, always going somewhere but never quite arriving. I was successful on the outside, but exhausted on the inside.

But during those 49 days, I decided to get off that bus.
I chose to board the Purpose Plane instead.

The Purpose Plane is quieter. Focused. Intentional. It’s not about pressure—it’s about purpose. It’s not about grinding—it’s about growing. That shift in mindset changed everything.

I started seeing what I once thought were my setbacks—like dyslexia and ADD—not as weaknesses, but as superpowers. I stopped apologizing for how my brain works and started leaning into what makes me unique.

I tapped into the four core human drivers that I believe are in all of us:

• Aliveness

• Connection

• Meaningful Purpose

• Personal Growth

And I dove into the High Performance Habits that support those drivers:

• Clarity

• Energy

• Courage

• Productivity

• Influence

The real game-changer? I began a daily practice with GROWTHDAY™—which became like a mental shower every morning. It helped me recalibrate my mindset, stay motivated, and commit to showing up differently.

Then I did something bold:
I hired a Certified High Performance Coach.

That decision took everything to a new level. I began to transform—my mindset, my habits, my results. And eventually, I became a Certified High Performance Coach myself. Now, I work with people who are ready to step off the Busy Bus and take flight on the Purpose Plane—just like I did.

Here’s the truth I’ve learned:
You don’t need a life-threatening experience to wake up.
You can choose to live differently—today.

You can create momentum in just one hour.
One hour to tap into your drivers.
One hour to define your next bold step.
One hour to shift from stuck to unstoppable.

If you're reading this, consider it your invitation.

Instead of waiting 49 days like I did,
let's take 60 minutes—together.

Let’s unlock your purpose.
Let’s activate your next level.
Let’s fly.

— Pete Kane