By 2004, Scott Kriens was already a Silicon Valley veteran and success story.

He started his career working for a once-penniless tech company that took off and was acquired by Cisco Systems for $4 billion in 1996. Next, he joined Juniper Networks as the company's CEO. Today, Juniper is worth over $4 billion and currently employs more than 10,000 employees worldwide!

However, despite his monetary achievements, as Scott began reaching mid-life, he felt like something was missing. Money and business success was greatbut was it everything?

Scott Kriens

Little did he know that this simple question would eventually lead Scott to create the 1440 Foundation, and later the 1440 Multiversity, both of which would guide countless people to find a deeper meaning within their own lives.

It also shaped Scott into an even stronger business leader with invaluable wisdom for aspiring and veteran entrepreneurs alike.

Meditation, Mindfulness and Purpose

By the early 2000s, Scott had already been working in Silicon Valley for nearly two decades. He loved what he did and accomplished, but he still felt like there had to be more to life.

What was his real purpose?

"I saw myself chasing after widgets and dollars," Scott says. "I looked around at what I was doing and said, 'Well, that doesn't really matter.'"

These feelings only escalated once his father passed away. "I sat with him right after he had passed," Scott remembers. "I was just sitting there with him, and I had this question come up, 'What matters between now and the time my time comes?'

Confronted with mortality and desire to find purpose, Scott began searching for those answers. He'd heard how meditation had assisted others in finding these answers, so he decided to try it out himself. The practice quickly clicked with him.

"Meditation came to me as a tool or an invitation in response to that question [of purpose]," he remembers. "It began as a search for the answer, and I've just been with it ever since."

Since taking on a regular meditation practice, Scott's views on life have changed immensely. Business leadership is still a crucial part of his life, but he's also sought to incorporate other pieces that added extra meaning to the totality of his existence.

As for whether he's answered that big question about purpose?

"I'm not sure I'll ever know the answer, or if there even is one," he says "But, I'm pretty sure that the place to look is inside of yourself. It's about finding a deeper connectionand not just searching elsewhere to find it.

Say It and Mean It

It isn't what you do. It's the way that you do it. Scott Kriens

In 1996, Scott joined Juniper Networks as their new CEO. Fast forward less than a decade and the tech company was worth about $2 billion, had over 3,000 employees, and was spread out over 60 countries.

Needless to say, Scott had plenty to manage. Despite past accomplishments, he was conflicted about what strategies were best for leading such a diverseand massiveworldwide team. After all, he was only one man.

This was also around the time that Scott discovered meditation. His new practice offered him previously untapped space to reflect upon his new role and better analyze how to lead his company effectively.

Soon, he began contemplating how to influence his people best, even though it was impossible to connect with thousands of employees personally. "I found that what really matters is leadership development," remembers Scott. "I can't always be at the point of impact, so I have to best train the people who are."

To Scott, leadership training wasn't all about showing others how to do the job itself wellit was also about being true to the company's core values. And, as CEO, Scott had to set the example.

"You have to model," says Scott. Companies can throw any positive, uplifting words or visions on the wall. But, if the leaders aren't actively living those values, there's no way the rest of the team will.

If they do, however, those values will trickle down and inspire the entirety of the company. It'll also offer a new level of trust and authenticity, as it shows that everyone is equally expected to commit to their organization's mission.

In short, great leaders must do more than give orders and assume they'll be followed because of some hierarchy. With any luck, the team might coast by doing the bare minimum, but where's the incentive to exceed?

"Here's something that Roosevelt said a long time ago," says Scott. "'Nobody cares what you think until they know who you are.' That's because if I don't trust the person and I'm not seeing who a person is in front of me, then I'm not going to embrace whatever they tell me."

Inspiration in the Redwoods

Scott knows he's fortunate in a multitude of ways. And because of this good fortune, he also believes it's his responsibility to give back.

In 2011, Scott and his wife Joanie started the 1440 Foundation. The philanthropic nonprofit's overarching goal was to assist leaders in building compassionate, authentic relationships with their communities through grants, outreach, and more.

The 1440 Foundation quickly grew. Within a few years, it became apparent that they needed a space that was bigger than the Kriens' home office. That's when Scott and Joanie heard about a cluster of abandoned buildings at a nearby defunct Bible college outside of Santa Cruz, California.

Once they saw the property nestled beneath the centuries-old redwoods, it felt right. The buildings were no doubt a mess, but that was part of its appeal. "I love building things," says Scott. So, he instead saw this "mess" as an empty canvas with incredible potential.

Inspired by the setting and energy surrounding the space, the once rather modest concept rapidly evolved. "We followed it more than we led it," says Scott. "It was all about creation." And what they created was a 75-acre campus complete with restaurants, classrooms, a hotel, and more.

It was also built with sincere intention. "The premise when building this place was for every square foot to potentially be a spot where something important or memorable could happen for one person," Scott says. "As a result, every square foot needs to be treated as if it were the most important square foot in this whole place."

Now containing much more than just a nonprofit, they named this space the 1440 Multiversity.

The Kriens' goal is for the Multiversity to become a destination for individualsespecially those in businessto connect both with themselves, as well as find value in honest, open conversations. These conversations may stem opportunities for growth, trust, innovation, and bulletproof personal and professional relationships.

In addition, Scott says, "it's a place where energy, discovery, and creativity flourish. It's about stimulating energy in people. That energy produces discoveries. When you amass those discoveries, you find creativity.

When we're energized, we can look at things in new and different ways."

So, what could you discover with newfound energy?

Listen to my entire conversation with Scott Kriens on the donothing podcast.

You'll learn more about how he found early success in Silicon Valley, what he discovered about himself while meditating, his favorite leadership lessons, and so much more.

Also, Id love to connect with you on Twitter and LinkedIn, as well as have you keep up with my company imageOne. Learn about my mission to show business leaders how mindfulness can transform you and your business in my book donothing. Visit http://www.donothingbook.com for more information.

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This CEO of a Billion-Dollar Tech Company Built a Retreat Center Where Leaders Can Unplug, Grow, and Look Within - Forbes