Watch this short video by Steven Kotler who speaks about the State of Flow on Big Think
The state of “Flow” was first by the psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in 1975 and refers to a psychological concept that describes a state of complete immersion in a task. In this state, an individual is fully focused, energized, and engaged in the activity, leading to peak performance and enjoyment. Flow is often experienced by athletes, musicians, artists, and individuals who are highly engaged in their work.
Flow is often described as a state of kind of effortless effort. We feel like we’re propelled through the activity. Everything else just seems to disappear. Time is going to dilate, which is a fancy way of saying it’s going to pass strangely five hours, go by in like five minutes. Occasionally it’ll slow down, you get a freeze-frame effect. For anybody who’s been in a car crash, for example, intuition tends to get turned up a lot, which is a form of flow. It also may happen to a basketball player in the zone, seeing the hoop, and suddenly it’s as big as a Hulu and the muscles tend to be paralysed.
The state of flow is considered to be a positive and desirable experience, and it is widely studied in the field of positive psychology.
Immersion in a task, also known as being in the “flow” state, is important because it can bring several benefits to a person, including:
Overall, immersion in a task can lead to improved well-being, increased productivity, and a more satisfying experience.
Yes, business professionals can get in a state of flow. Flow is not limited to creative or leisure activities, but can also be experienced in work settings, including in business environments. When a business professional is fully engaged in their work, they can enter a state of flow, characterized by complete focus, high energy, and a sense of challenge and enjoyment.
For business professionals, the state of flow can lead to improved productivity, enhanced creativity, and a greater sense of satisfaction with their work. To experience flow in a business setting, it is important to find tasks that match your skills and challenge you, to minimize distractions, and to be fully present and focused in the moment. By creating an environment that promotes flow, business professionals can achieve peak performance and achieve greater success in their careers.
There are several strategies that can help promote the state of flow:
By implementing these strategies, you can increase the likelihood of experiencing flow and the associated benefits, such as improved well-being, increased productivity, and a greater sense of satisfaction.
At FutureEdge CFO, we partner with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies in the manufacturing and industrial sectors to unlock liquidity, accelerate EBITDA growth, and drive valuation expansion—without disrupting leadership execution.
Financial inefficiencies, trapped cash, and margin pressures don’t just slow growth—they directly impact investor returns. With a hands-on, execution-first approach, we help you turn untapped financial potential into measurable results.
🔹 Looking to boost EBITDA by 15-30% within 12 months?
🔹 Want to optimize liquidity and position for a premium exit?
🔹 Need a financial transformation partner who doesn’t just strategize—but executes?
📅 Let’s discuss how we can maximize your portfolio’s financial performance.
The FutureEdge CFO Academy (“aka” Blog) is our central repository for all meaningful information and content that FutureEdge CFO cares for and supports, which we package and make accessible to anyone who visits our site to facilitate creative thinking and inner reflection. We aspire to cultivate a growing body of knowledge that is uniquely our own, but is acquired externally, and we share it to promote the values we stand for, but also to help make sound decisions and take the most effective action.
When a newly hired CFO unlocked $12.4M in trapped cash within 60 days and drove a 2.7x EBITDA improvement in just 18 months, it wasn’t luck—it was execution. This is what separates the elite 10% of Private Equity CFOs in manufacturing: their ability to translate investment theses into tangible value, fast. Here's how they do it.
Read More
In today’s private equity landscape, operational excellence—not financial engineering—drives top-quartile performance. As fund metrics like DPI, RVPI, TVPI, and IRR evolve through the 10-year lifecycle, early and strategic interventions can dramatically accelerate value creation and improve investor returns.
Read More
Most manufacturers have 15-30% hidden EBITDA waiting to be unlocked. Traditional cost-cutting falls short—true growth lies in optimizing working capital, pricing, and cross-functional efficiency. Discover how strategic tweaks can drive millions in untapped value.
Read More
Stepping into a PE CEO role demands rapid value creation, strategic oversight, and decisive action. This article explores six key principles—from navigating uncertainty to building strong fund relationships—offering a roadmap for bold leadership and long-term success.
Read More
Unlocking CEO Alpha reveals how tailored leadership drives superior private equity returns through strategic talent management, performance tracking, and rapid decision-making. for a few seconds Unlock CEO Alpha—tailored leadership that turns operational gains into rapid, sustainable PE outperformance.
Read More
CEO underperformance erodes growth, culture, and investor confidence. Boards must spot the signs early and act decisively to safeguard long-term success.
Read More
