The Importance of Purpose
Why do you do what you do?
Knowing why you do what you do is essential in your professional life. It provides direction, meaning, and fulfillment beyond the simple pursuit of money. Your work doesn't have to be bound to a specific field; it can extend to various industries. Many people I’ve worked with have versatile talents that are industry agnostic. But purpose isn’t only about having a generic reason like helping your family. The "why" behind your actions is what matters.
(To delve deeper into this concept, I recommend exploring Simon Sinek's TED talk "Start With Why". If that intrigues you, he has a book with the same name).
Studies show people who live their higher purpose have longer, happier lives. They display enhanced cognitive function, making their well-being and engagement significantly better.
Here’s a story that illustrates the power of purpose. In the 1960s, Lyndon Johnson created NASA headquarters in Houston. During a visit to the facility, he met various scientists, administrators, and astronauts. They all explained in detail what they did. Then he saw a janitor sweeping a hallway. Johnson asked the janitor what he did, and the janitor replied, "I'm helping put a man on the moon."
It's not about what you do. It’s about why you do it.
Always Forward
It's essential to focus on the future. While learning from the past is valuable, dwelling on it too much can hinder your progress. You disregard the future if the past dominates your thinking. If you find yourself unhappy in your current job, don't hesitate to make a change. Embrace the reality that the workplace and workforce are evolving rapidly. The ability to adapt, lead, and manage change is the key to success in the future.
We use a tool at the beginning of all our workshops and team meetings called “The Gratitude Builder." You reflect on positive events from the past month or quarter and their significance to you. The events can be personal or professional. Gratitude is a crucial step in finding purpose and happiness. When you add why those events are significant, you come even closer.
Next, write down why you chose to work at your current company, or why you entered the industry you’re in. Think about your 8-year-old self. If someone you what you wanted to do when you grew up, it probably wasn’t doing what you are now. Children rarely dream of selling insurance or pursuing careers in HR, for example. But there's a unique reason that led you to this path. Share your story and your motivations.
I graduated college with majors in English and communications. I was unsure about my future. I loved those fields, working in radio or teaching wasn't going to make me rich. So, I started selling insurance. While it wasn't my lifelong dream, it laid the groundwork for my future career.
What's your story? Why did you choose this path?
Finding Your Purpose
I love talking with people and exploring their motivation for choosing their path. Identifying why you do what you do is to understand your innate sense of purpose. It probably encompasses protecting your family or friends. Or, it might be about making an impact or and contributing to a non-profit. Finding your purpose means diving into your values, your strengths, and your passions.
Identifying and understanding your values is essential. What's truly important to you? Is it about helping others, achieving financial stability, or something else?
Identify your strengths—the skills and abilities that you excel at, such as communication or creativity. Then write down your passions and the activities that bring you joy. It doesn't matter whether they're work-related, personal, or their your hobbies.
Moreover, embracing your weaknesses is crucial. Honesty about your shortcomings fosters collaboration and allow others to support you. Transparency about your weaknesses is as important as highlighting your strengths.
Setting goals and visualizing them is a fundamental aspect of achieving purpose. Goals serve as markers for your journey, providing direction and motivation.
Your past experiences and influencers play a significant role in shaping your purpose. Recognizing who you want to be more like (and less like) is part of this self-discovery process.
The Purpose CreatorTM
To help with this, I developed a tool called The Purpose CreatorTM. The tool helps identify people who have influenced you and key events in your life. It then identifies your values, and your top core values. These aspects contribute in shaping your sense of purpose.
Purpose is a profound force that influences your life and work. It's driven by your values, strengths, passions, and past experiences. The Purpose CreatorTM helps you gain deeper insight into your purpose. Your journey to purpose is ongoing. Understanding it leads to a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
Every quarter or so, take a few moments to reflect on your own influences, events and values. Your unique perspective and experiences shape your sense of purpose.
Values are significant but also must run true. It's one thing to claim you are ethical, for example. But the true measure of your values lie in your actions and how consistently you uphold them. You might claim to be ethical. But if you tolerate any unethical behavior in your workplace, it raises questions about the authenticity of your values. It's crucial to live your values every day, both personally and professionally.
For me, my professional values are straightforward. I focus on three key values. First, I want to make a lot of money. Second, I need to have fun in my work. And last, I need to have peace and harmony in my professional life. I don’t like drama. These values guide my decisions and interactions. During final interviews, I ask job candidates if they can help me achieve these values. For me, they are all interconnected, and I aim to find a balance between them.
Identify your personal and professional values. Your values are a essential in understanding why you do what you do. They also play a significant role in shaping your sense of purpose.
Understanding Unique Ability
"Unique Ability" is a concept brilliantly developed by Dan Sullivan of Strategic Coach. It's an essential guideline for living your best possible professional life. Your Unique Ability is comprised of four characteristics:
Superior skill: You excel at it and others recognize and value it.
Passion: You love doing it and want to do it as much as possible.
Energy: It's energizing for you and those around you.
Never-ending improvement: You never run out of passion for growth.
Unique Ability creates a standard of what you're both skilled at and passionate about. Your Unique Ability is where your greatest potential lies. It's where you can make the most significant impact and find lasting fulfillment. Remember, if you're great at something but don't love it, it's not a fulfilling path.
Leaders: Questions to ask your team
Here are a quick set of questions. They can help you engage your team in discussions about purpose and values. These questions are valuable for one-on-one conversations or group sessions:
1. How does your work make a difference?
2. In what way does your work impact the team, clients, or the community?
3. What role do you play in delivering the purpose of the organization?
These questions encourage employees to connect with the broader purpose of the organization. They can understand how their efforts contribute to meaningful outcomes. It makes the purpose more personal and motivates individuals to strive for success.
Techniques to Identify Your Individual Purpose
Your individual reason for purpose is different that your professional one. Purpose isn't limited to the professional. It's also essential to understand your personal purpose. It's the reason you're here on this journey called life.
It begins with identifying your core values. What truly matters in your life? Next, consider what a perfect day looks like for you. This isn't about a specific schedule. Instead what are the experiences and moments that make your day perfect. For some, it could be a quiet morning, a hike, a day at the beach, or any other personal joy.
Additionally, consider the impact you want to make in your life. Your personal purpose might be making a positive difference in the lives of others.
Embrace the idea of being a never-ending learner. Seek opportunities to expand your knowledge and grow, even as you age. Learning keeps you relevant and energized.
Milestones/Timeline
Timelines and milestones are also valuable for understanding your journey. Here are some of my milestones along my timeline:
When I was in high school, and I already knew I wanted to teach and speak for a living.
In college, I realized that if I pursued teaching, I'd be making a meager income, so I shifted my career focus.
By the year 2000, I was in corporate training and running a division of 350 people, but was unfulfilled due to a lack of autonomy.
At the age of 40, I took a significant step by quitting my job, writing my first book, and starting my own business. Despite having zero clients at the outset, I was determined to pursue my passion.
This timeline and these milestones helped me understand how I got to where I am today. It's important to recognize the turning points in your own life and how they have shaped your journey.
A Life of Purpose
Don’t forget - life is full of surprises and unexpected turns. Embrace the changes, the challenges, and the opportunities that come your way. Your journey is unique, and your purpose may evolve as you grow and learn.
Don't forget to appreciate the journey. Even detours can lead to meaningful destinations. Life is full of unexpected surprises. Your path may take you to extraordinary places you hadn't even imagined.
Passion and the pursuit of knowledge are essential to achieving a fulfilling life. Life often takes unexpected turns, which is why adaptability and resilience are crucial.
Emphasize celebrating successes, regardless of size. Any success is a reminder appreciating one's achievements along the journey.
Start each day with a clear sense of purpose. Reflect on why you do what you do. It's a powerful daily practice that reminds you of what your purpose is.
Just so you know, I personally write each one of my posts. There’s no AI or ghostwriter here; it’s just me.