Living and Working On Purpose
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, I used everything you gave me.”
—Erma Bombeck
Every decade we have a new young adult population emerging, most of them looking for a career, a job, or about to embark on further enlightenment at college or university.
What are the hopes and dreams of these “apprentices” in the world of adult life? Looking back, we’ve had some interesting labels attached to various demographics.
1900—1924 G.I. Generation
1925—1945 Silent Generation
1946—1964 Baby Boomers
1965—1979 Generation X
1980—2000 Millennials/Generation Y
2001—? New Silent Generation/Generation Z
What label are you wearing today? As Generation Y are in the spotlight right now, let’s zero in on these young hopefuls. Research has shown that Generation Y professionals are able to adapt quickly to changes in technology and that they work most productively when they are passionate about a cause. What can they teach us about maintaining focus and working effectively in a very fast-moving environment?
Aaron Trenouth, age twenty-six, is a talented, outgoing young man. He’s a graduate of the University of Lethbridge, a school with a reputation for producing top-notch business majors. Small class sizes and entrepreneurially minded professors are an integral part of this success formula. As a Generation Y young adult, let’s take a peek at Aaron’s outlook for the future in his own words.
“Regarding career, there are no guarantees today. If you want to build a career in a large company, you start at the low end and pay your dues. When the economy was booming years ago, university grads had a different viewpoint. They felt entitled to start in management with a corner office and an annual starting salary in the $80,000 range. Not anymore! I wanted to find a company that was growth oriented, had excellent opportunities for quick promotion and provided excellent training. Money isn’t top of my “must-have” list. A lot of my friends feel the same way. The most important thing for me is that I’m happy—that means a happy work environment. When I looked at potential companies to work for, their reputation was important. Are they really providing value to their customers and employees? Is their business purpose driven? Are people happy working there?
“For me, being happy is waking up in the morning and not dreading going to work. And when I get home at the end of the day, I’m not stressed out; I still have plenty of energy to enjoy my evenings and do other things. I also want to be challenged. So many people seem to plateau after a few years in the job. First, they get comfortable and then they become complacent. I don’t want to get stuck in a routine like that.”
Like thousands of other young adults, Aaron wants a future where there is hope and opportunity and a sense of pride from the service he provides. That’s not an unreasonable request. So what has he found? Aaron chose to work with Enterprise Rent-a-Car, the number-one car rental company in America, with more than six thousand locations, including international operations in Canada, The United Kingdom, Ireland and Germany.
This $9 billion powerhouse has built their business and reputation on one simple purpose—to create completely satisfied customers.
Let’s see how they match up with Aaron’s expectations.
The top four areas for Enterprise that create value are:
1. Completely satisfied customers
2. Employee development and empowerment
3. Growth
4. Profit
To help you derive some useful ideas for your own business, here is an expanded version of these four value creators.
1. Concentrate foremost on taking the best possible care of your employees and customers. Profitability will naturally follow.
2. Don’t just endeavor to make customers satisfied. Treat them so well they’ll be totally satisfied.
3. Rather than lavish interior design, set up your place of business with customer convenience top of mind.
4. Don’t forget the basic niceties—shaking hands
and greeting people by name—that turn your
first-time renters (or shoppers or clients) into lifetime customers.
5. Remember that repeat business is crucial, because it costs between five and six times more to gain new customers than to keep current ones.
6. View your customers as the most important people who will ever walk through your doors.
7. A total commitment to customer service must begin at the highest level of the organization.
8. Never compromise your integrity.
9. Abhor practices that are unfair to your customers, even if they are considered commonplace in your industry. While crossing the line might increase profits in the short term, such actions will prevent people from wanting to do business with you again.
10. Avoid charging customers for small services that cost you little or nothing to perform, especially with customers who do business with you on a regular basis.
11. Uncover opportunities that will serve you well over the long haul.
12. Go the extra mile to make good first impressions.
13. Surround your business with like-minded, entrepreneurial people and listen to what they have to say.
14. Be ready to act and stand tall in times of crisis, even if it means taking a temporary hit to the bottom line in order to do what is right.
Source: Exceeding Customer Expectations
Enterprise also puts a huge emphasis on teamwork. Their mission is to cultivate a fun and friendly workplace where teamwork rules. They do this by hiring young, smart people, training them well and promoting those who consistently create high customer satisfaction scores. These are measured every month by an independent outside agency.
As of this writing, Aaron started as a trainee manager fourteen months ago. Today, he is a station manager, overseeing two offices, a team of fifteen people and a fleet of 270 vehicles valued at seven million dollars. That’s a pretty good start! Aaron enjoys the challenge of creating innovative solutions to ensure his customers are completely satisfied. As in every business that has thousands of customers, sometimes initial expectations are not met. However, before a less than happy customer leaves, the fun is to change that situation and exceed their expectation. And it works.
Full-day training sessions once a month also ensure personal and professional growth for Aaron. The prospect of working overseas is also very enticing with Enterprise expanding further into France and Spain. Aaron is fluent in French, so the chance of plateauing early in his career seems far-fetched at this point.
As you learned in Chapter 5, operating with a win-win philosophy creates incredible success. Enterprise seems to have figured out the formula. It looks like the Gen-Y’s group are in alignment with win-win, too. Although money is important, at the end of the day, for them, hope springs eternal when you’re happy. And doing purposeful work provides a great springboard.
“The best career advice to give the young is, find out what you like doing best and get someone else to pay you for doing it.”
—Katherine Whilehaen
Finding Your PURPOSE
Entire books have been written about this all-encompassing topic. We have condensed it down to the fundamentals. Please note, this is a vitally important chapter for you. In the following pages you will discover how essential it is to have a purpose for your life. We’ll even help you create a clear definition. Most people don’t have a clue about this. We don’t want you to end up like masses of other people out there, wandering generalities who are unsure of what they are doing, and why they are doing it.
Then there are those people who come to a crossroads in their life. Somewhere between thirty-five and fifty-five years of age, the famous mid-life crisis appears. Suddenly deeper questions begin to surface like, “Is this all there is?” After some serious navel-gazing, they begin to feel a void, a sense of emptiness. Something is missing, but they can’t quite put their finger on it. Gradually they come to the realization that collecting material things and paying off the mortgage isn’t doing it for them anymore.
Learning to live on purpose
Is this scenario familiar to you? Are you wondering about a lack of purpose in your own life? The ideas in this chapter go far beyond the specific daily habits you have started working on, important though these are. At some level we all hunger for meaning in our lives. We need to feel at our core that we matter, and that we are making a difference.
Adopting a lifestyle that is on purpose provides an opportunity to enrich others, by leaving your imprint in a positive way. For example, if you have a daily philosophy of being a giver and you develop the habit of helping others with no immediate thought of personal reward, you are demonstrating the beginnings of a sense of purpose. When you are able to expand this philosophy to encompass a broader vision, your purpose will crystallize.
Jack:
One way to get closer to your purpose is to look back over your life and ask yourself, “What are the ten or fifteen times I’ve felt the greatest amount of joy in my life?” I interviewed a woman named Julie Laipply, who was Miss Virginia USA in the Miss USA contest. But she wasn’t happy. In fact, she was miserable. Julie was studying to be a veterinarian because she loved animals. Then she realized that she loved playing with animals and taking care of them, but she didn’t love biology, physiology, and biochemistry. So she stopped wanting to be a veterinarian. Then she asked herself, “When was I happiest?” She realized the time she was happiest was when she was in a leadership role and teaching leadership in high school. She was the student president. She’d go to the student leadership conferences at Ohio State when all the high schools would send two representatives. Then when she was at Ohio State she was one of the chaperones who worked with those kids while they were there. She discovered, “I’m happiest when I’m leading.” So she approached Ohio State and said, “I want to graduate with a degree in leadership.” And they said, “We don’t have such a thing.” She asked, “Can I create an independent study and develop such a program?” They said “Yes”. It took her an extra year to graduate, then five more years to get out of school. She took courses in journalism, psychology, and public speaking, and at the age of twenty-six, she was running leadership trainings in the Pentagon for the military. She was happy and fulfilled because she maintained hope and stayed true to her purpose.
The Marathon of HOPE
Here’s the remarkable story of Terry Fox. When he was only eighteen years old, Terry discovered he had cancer. The diagnosis was osteosarcoma, a fast-metastasizing cancer that often strikes the legs and arms and may spread to the lungs, brain or liver. After the agony of his new reality set in, Terry basically had two choices: give up hope and wait for death, or discover something meaningful to live for. He chose the latter. The cancer meant he would lose his leg. As he lay in his hospital bed, Terry dreamed of running across Canada. That day he made a commitment to make his dream a reality. His vision was starting to take shape.
By committing his life to making a difference in the fight against cancer, he created a true purpose. The goal of his one-legged run, named the Marathon of Hope, was to raise one million dollars for cancer research. The final total he raised was $24.17 million!
Young Terry discovered a purpose so great it uplifted him physically and mentally every day. This power of purpose drove him to remarkable heights of performance. Even though he had only one healthy leg, a prosthesis attached to the stump of his other leg enabled him to run. The action was more like a hopping movement. It created the sensation of stubbing his toe with every step. Terry wore shorts while running. This of course exposed his false leg and made some people feel uncomfortable. Terry’s response was, “This is me, why hide it?” Starting out on April 12, 1980, he ran the equivalent of a marathon (twenty-six miles) almost every day, covering a total of 3,339 miles in only 143 days—an amazing feat! By doing so, he provided hope for thousands of people all over the world.
This may prompt you to ask, “What am I doing with my life? What is my life’s work all about? What legacy will I leave behind when my time is over?”
Important questions, don’t you think?
Three Key POINTS
Let’s take a closer look at the key points that helped Terry Fox successfully forge his new purpose. First, we need to clear up the distinction between setting goals and having a purpose. Your purpose transcends your goals. It’s the Big Picture—like an all-encompassing umbrella. Goals, on the other hand, are the steps you take along the way. Terry’s purpose was to help eliminate cancer. His specific goal, however, was to raise one million dollars for cancer research by running across Canada. When you align your everyday goals with a well-defined purpose, you will enjoy peace of mind and a wonderful sense of being alive. That’s a rare commodity these days.
The following three key points will help you activate your own purpose:
1. Align your purpose with your natural ability.
Terry Fox aligned his purpose with something he really enjoyed—athletics. He excelled at running, so running across the country became the natural vehicle for him to achieve his goal. We have all been gifted with natural talents. Discovering what these are is part of the game of life. Often, our work is not aligned with what we do best. Our values and our actions may be at cross purposes. It’s these mixed messages that cause internal conflict and uncertainty.
2. Be determined.
Every day Terry stayed true to his purpose. Despite snow, rain and sleet, he soldiered on. In the early stages there was almost no media coverage and he sometimes felt alone and misunderstood. He overcame that by keeping his purpose in the forefront of his mind. Many people lose their direction in life because they are easily distracted or influenced by other people. Consequently they wander along bouncing from one situation to the next, like a ball in a pinball machine.
Living your purpose requires single-mindedness—a resolve to do whatever it takes. It separates the weak from the strong, the procrastinators from the truly committed. It inflames a deep passion and creates a feeling of significance. When your purpose is clear, your life will have meaning. You’ll sleep at night fulfilled, instead of worrying about all the day-to-day stuff that creates stress and tension.
3. Maintain a humble attitude.
Don’t allow an unhealthy ego to override your good intentions. Individuals who have the greatest and most positive impact on society are not concerned with fame and fortune. Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and thousands of others who are not as well-known, simply got on with the work. Greed and power were not part of their formula for living on purpose.
In the later stages of his Marathon of Hope, Terry Fox attracted thousands of people in every major city. His attitude throughout was, “I’m just an average person, no better or no worse than anyone else. There are a lot of other people involved with this, and they deserve recognition too.” It was this humble outlook and genuine concern for others, plus his never-give-up attitude as he battled adversity, that endeared him to millions of people. Even after the cancer spread to his lungs, he was determined to carry on. Terry never did get to finish his run. He passed away on June 28, 1981. However, the ongoing legacy he left continues to help cancer victims.
To date, more than 400 million dollars has been raised for cancer research from the annual Terry Fox Run. The event is held in at least fifty countries and more than two million people have participated. At this point you may be thinking, “That’s a great story, but I really don’t see myself dramatically changing the world. I’m not a celebrity. My struggle is just getting to the end of the month.”
That’s the very reason you are struggling—you don’t get it yet. The importance of purpose, that is. If you did, you wouldn’t view your life as a struggle.
As trainers, our biggest challenge is getting people to understand how critical this is to their future. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a ready-made “purpose button” on the top of your head, that you could hit and your true purpose in life would immediately become clear? Obviously there’s more to it than that. The remainder of this chapter will clarify how you can make this happen.
Here’s the next step to making your purpose come alive.
Discovering Your PURPOSE
As we stated earlier, most people do not have a well-defined purpose. To help you figure out yours, there are some probing questions. Take your time to think through these before answering. If you are feeling stuck, or going through a major transition, consider taking a couple of days off and going to a quiet retreat where you can really think about what you want to do with your life. It’s impossible to make excellent decisions when you are caught up in the busy whirl of everyday activities. You can’t think on the run! If you don’t have a special sanctuary of your own, there are probably a few retreats in your area. Check the Internet or your local churches for assistance.
David McNally, bestselling author of Even Eagles Need a Push and The Eagle’s Secret, is the producer of a wonderful award-winning video about Terry Fox. (See Resource Guide for details.) It is truly inspiring. David is regarded as a leading authority on how to thrive in our personal and professional lives. He created the critically important ten-question exercise called Discovering and Living Your Purpose (see Action Steps). These are essential questions. So don’t sell yourself short—reserve a few minutes to complete the exercise—it could lead to a major breakthrough for you. But first, finish reading the chapter. In doing so, you will develop a greater understanding of how to determine your purpose. Here are some key considerations: Your quest begins with recognizing your special skills and talents. What do you do best? What do you really enjoy doing? Chapter 2, Priority Focus, helped you to figure this out. Most people stagnate in their jobs. They end up bored, just going through the motions. It’s very frustrating. Often, the reason is a lack of challenge. The work does not utilize their strengths and they end up stuck doing activities that deplete their energy, instead of being inspired by some magnificent project. Does this in any way describe you?
Purposeful work also means that you care deeply about something. You don’t feel obligated to perform, rather you are passionate about it. Terry Fox was profoundly touched by younger cancer victims. It spurred him on every day, despite the hardships.
When you are living on purpose you feel that you are making a difference. And you don’t need to be famous. You can make a significant impact in your own community. Another important factor is your level of enthusiasm. If you are focused only on making money, a large slice of life will pass you by.
To help you fully understand this, we had to include the following story about a young girl whose purpose was thrust upon her in a cruel way.
Ten-year-old Anna Jarmics saw the small oval-shaped metal object land in the sandbox near her brothers and sisters. She knew she had to do something. So she picked it up and decided to throw it away in the hope of protecting her siblings. She started running, suddenly tripped on the sidewalk, and as she lay there, the live hand grenade exploded, mangling both of her hands. It was 1945 in war-torn Hungary, and the grenade had been tossed onto the street from a passing Russian tank.
Anna was rushed to an army hospital three blocks away. She remained conscious. The doctors immediately amputated both of her hands just below the wrist. Times were tough and supplies were meager. She endured the traumatic procedures without anesthetic. Recovery was painful and slow. There were no rehabilitation facilities in those days. Altogether she spent six months in hospital.
Now, age seventy-six, Anna has led a purposeful life inspiring others to break through their limitations and discover what their life can become. She has never been bitter or angry about her own misfortune. In fact, she wouldn’t even use the word misfortune in her vocabulary. What do you do when you’re ten years old with no hands? Well, you go to school and you eventually learn how to pick up a pencil. Then, despite having no fingers or thumbs, you somehow learn to write. It’s hard and it takes persistence, but Anna is not a quitter. She never has been.
In 1956, she moved to England, got a job cleaning offices, got married and had four children. Another major challenge came when her husband, an alcoholic, suddenly walked out on the family, emptying the bank account leaving Anna with nothing to her name. She explains, “I just kept working and raised my kids the best way I could.” She then decided to immigrate to Canada.
When she arrived there, Anna wanted to drive her own car. With no hands? Impossible! Anna Jarmics doesn’t use the word impossible in her vocabulary either. The day of her driving test she said the instructor looked more nervous than she was. All of the staff at the driving school were glued to the windows as she stepped into her vehicle. They were cheering when she returned, having passed on her first attempt.
When pursuing a job at a local hospital, she said to the skeptical human resources person, “Let me show you what I can do. I’ll work two weeks for nothing, then you can start giving me a paycheck.” She got the job. Anna is always looking for new challenges. She relishes change and looks at life as a series of positive opportunities. Among her long list of victories are several trophies she’s won for target shooting. She garnered first, second, and third prizes for her exquisite watercolor paintings, and she is considering an exhibition in the near future. She’s also an accomplished calligrapher. There have been other physical challenges along the way. While working as a security guard, Anna broke her back, requiring two major operations before she was on her feet again.
You can add determination to her list of qualities. She’ll be the first to tell you she has a very definite competitive streak. And she has a can-do attitude. “I don’t find anything difficult. I can do anything I want,” she says.
Perhaps her crowning achievement is her twenty-eight-year love affair with the game of darts. It started innocently enough, watching a friend play at a local Legion Hall. He said, “You should play.” So she did. Her very first throw was a bull’s-eye and she has been winning ever since. In fact, several men refuse to play with her because she always beats them. Her many championship wins include a gold medal in darts at the Senior Olympics.
When asked what advice she would offer others, particularly those struggling with change, Anna says: “It’s important to think for yourself. Buy a journal. Take time to write down your thoughts. Ask yourself questions. What bothers you most? Why? What can you do about it? Go back and read over your notes. It will give you clarity and help you make decisions.”
Anna has learned to overcome her physical pain using mental strength instead of pills. She practices meditation and believes greatly in the power of prayer. “I leave it up to God. I always say, ‘What will be, will be.’ I’m just having fun.”
Anna’s latest project is speaking to new immigrants at the local YWCA. Many of these people are anxious about their future. Anna’s story inspires them to let go of their fear and helps them believe that they can succeed. She says, “It’s made me so happy, because I can tell somebody how to make their life better—I’ve succeeded in a lot of things because I wanted to. Nobody taught me how to do things. It was all my own doing. I never give up. I never did, and I never will!” Inspiring words from a very inspiring woman whose purpose is clear when you spend a few minutes with her—to be a beacon of enthusiasm for others so that their light can shine too.
Source: The Power of Focus for Women
Statement of PURPOSE
Many businesses have spent large sums of money developing mission statements. This usually involves the leaders of the company. Sometimes a management consultant is hired to help with the process. The result is usually three or four paragraphs of well-meaning words and clichés. These are often made into a beautiful plaque that hangs elegantly in the main entrance of the office. Sadly, this is as far as it goes for many companies. Even sadder is the fact that, when asked, most people who work in the organization cannot repeat the mission statement. It never becomes part of the culture. All too often it is just something management dreamed up, and becomes another flavor of the month.
Les:
I had a speech to deliver to the board members of a large national food chain. I knew they had a mission statement and were upgrading it. So I randomly called several of their stores and asked the person who answered the phone, “Can you tell me what your company mission statement is, please?” Not one person was able to answer the question. One manager responded, “I think we have a copy of it somewhere. I’d need to check my filing cabinet.” So much for living your mission!
If you own a business or are a key decision-maker, consider these suggestions: First, change the phrase “Mission Statement” to “Our Purpose.” Generally speaking, employees understand this more easily than a mission. Keep it short and simple, so that everyone in the office can memorize it. One powerful sentence that everyone puts into practice every day will do more for your business than a long-winded statement dropped into some obscure filing cabinet.
An excellent example is Harry Rosen Men’s Wear, a high-end clothing chain. Here’s their statement: To Exceed Our Customer’s Expectations. This is printed on the back of every salesperson’s business card, and everyone who works there knows it. Each employee also has the authority to turn this statement into action. For example, if you bought a pair of pants that needed altering, and you had to have them tomorrow but couldn’t pick them up, the salesperson would ensure that they were delivered by courier. No problem. That’s going the extra mile. We suggest you keep your own personal statement of purpose to one meaningful sentence. Make it generic enough that you can serve your purpose in many everyday situations.
Les:
My purpose statement is: “To use my God-given talents to positively impact as many people as I can during my lifetime, in a way that significantly improves their lives.” This gives me a multitude of opportunities. I can serve business people through our Power of Focus training programs. I can also share ideas by writing books, blogs and magazine articles as well as recording audio programs and videos. Or I can simply offer a word of encouragement and a smile to someone who needs a boost—for example, a waitress who is feeling pressured because the restaurant is short-staffed. Or a parking lot attendant who rarely has a conversation with any customers because they are in too big a hurry to extend a greeting.
Jack:
My purpose statement is: “To inspire and empower people to live their highest vision in a context of love and joy, in harmony with the highest good of all concerned.” Similar to what Les stated above, there are many opportunities and many forums for accomplishing this.
I can write books, conduct seminars, give speeches, write articles, appear on radio and television shows, motivate and mentor my staff, consult with other organizations, develop a self-improvement curriculum for at-risk, inner-city high school students, or simply inspire the person sitting next to me on an airplane.
Mark:
My purpose statement is: “To help kids of all ages to love free enterprise and business profitability, using inventiveness, creativity and innovation.“ I can speak to hundreds of teenage entrepreneurs at a conference, or, like Les and Jack, I can also have an audience with one young person for ten minutes. It’s amazing how you can touch someone with a few well-chosen words of encouragement and support. Sometimes it only takes a moment to make a positive difference.
We have also developed a statement of purpose for our Chicken Soup for the Soul series. It simply reads:
To change the world,
one story at a time.
Dave Albano Is Someone Who Likes to Live Large.
He also lives on purpose by raising money for worthy causes. So when he sets a major personal goal, he creates a secondary charitable target to go along with it.
As an outdoor enthusiast, Dave recently decided to really test his capabilities. At age forty-three, he’s currently climbing the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each of the seven continents on earth—magical peaks that have been climbed by a unique “club” of less than 200 people. They are Kilimanjaro (Africa), Denali (North America), Aconcagua (South America), Carstenz Pyramid (Australasia), Vinson (Antarctica), Everest (Asia) and Elbrus (Europe). This multi-year goal obviously requires tremendous discipline and focus, as well as considerable resources.
Dave recently summited Kilimanjaro—19,340 feet. Here’s a brief account of his experience:
“Africa was hot, I mean stupid hot! My buddy Ralph had asked me to coach his twenty-three person team to climb Kili, as the mountain is affectionately known. Most had never been on a mountain, but the purpose was to raise funds for multiple sclerosis (MS) research, a very worthwhile pursuit.
“We trudged up the massive slopes of the mountain for five full days with the summit covered in snow, in full view. Our African guides constantly reminded us of our daily Swahili mantra— ‘polé, polé’ which means—slowly, slowly. The trick to a successful summit is proper acclimatization which could only occur through a painfully slow ascent.
“On the night of day five, our summit bid began. It started at the highest elevation I had ever achieved at that time. We were well prepared, knowing that this was a mental game as much as a physical one. I felt strong and refreshed despite the oxygen-depleted atmosphere. Little did I know how much worse it would get! We travelled in the darkness, single-file, our headlamps lighting the way. Six hours later, we reached a major milestone at Gilman’s Point, which sits atop the crater rim at 18,638 feet. The true summit was about another two-hour hike to Uhuru Peak at 19,341 feet, which is the highest point in Africa.
“About 15,000 people attempt to climb Kili every year, but only 30 percent ever make it to the top, and about a dozen actually die annually attempting the climb. More people have died on Kili than Everest because people underestimate it. I intentionally did not take any altitude sickness medication to see where my body would tank, physically. I found out fast! Literally a few steps after Gilman’s Point, a vicious headache set in accompanied by horrible nausea. I emptied the contents of my stomach on the crater rim. “Focus Dave….Focus,” I kept repeating to myself. I just put one foot in front of the other.
“When despair sets in, you want to quit. I couldn’t believe how hard and fast acute mountain sickness walloped me. However, I thought, ‘I didn’t come all the way to the heart of Africa to turn around now.’ Besides, this was bigger than me. I had coached our team the entire trip just for this moment. I promised folks back home I’d fly their flags at the summit. I had people sponsor me for the fundraiser if I reached the top. Focus—onward—upward. For every step, I had to stop and take three breaths before I was able to lift my other leg. Step…Breath…Breath…Breath…Step…Breath…Breath…Breath….It seemed like an eternity. For two full hours I continued in this trance, purely focused on the patch of stone, dirt and ice in front of me where my next footstep would fall. Finally, at long last, I dragged myself to the summit. I was the first of our party to do so, and through The Power of Focus I flew a flag bearing those exact same words that inspired me to the top.
“The joy and the elation I felt is hard to describe. Just the very act of stopping rejuvenated me. I spent a good half-hour on the Roof of Africa, soaking in the experience, re-charging, revelling in a dream come true. I wept at the enormity of it all…knowing I was only halfway there, since the top of any climb is simply the half-way point. To be successful, you still have to get down! The incredible effort it took my body to move was mind-numbing, and I knew the only cure to my ills was to get back down as soon as possible.
“Seventy-five percent of our mountain team made it to the top that day and we collectively raised over $300,000 for MS. My next ascent of Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest peak outside the Himalayas, is only a month away. Everest and the other summits are soon to follow. I feel confident as I continue training, knowing a lot more money will be raised for other great causes. And the people I meet along the way during these unique adventures will add greatly to my growth and experience. Live Large!” (See more of Dave’s story at www.DaveAlbano.com)
Contribution
You’ll know you are making a difference when:
- • You take time to listen as a stranger shares a heartache.
- • Your child hands you a custom-made card, with a verse that makes your eyes go moist.
- • People describe you as a genuine giver.
- • Your customers keep coming back year after year.
- • Going the extra mile for others is something you do naturally.
- • Unexpected opportunities come from “out of the blue”. It’s called payback.
- • You may be physically tired, but your heart feels full at the end of the day.
—Les Hewitt
Insights
One of the more common questions we receive is, “What’s the difference between living your life on purpose versus setting new goals every year?” That is a meaningful question.
First, some people discover their life’s purpose at a very early age, while others go through their journey and never figure it out. That’s still a bit of a mystery. Why would a young man like Terry Fox be inspired to run across Canada to help eradicate cancer, whereas a wealthy influential rock star (or businessperson), succumbs to heroin addiction and fritters away their life in a useless fashion? These are two ends of a pretty wide spectrum. Our observation is, for most people, their sense of purpose evolves.
Living on purpose is directly connected to giving. The key phrase is, constantly adding value to others. Some people are cut out to be teachers, counselors, pastors, missionaries and coaches. Some are destined to be doctors, nurses and surgeons. Others are given the gift of making money. And then there’s a whole range of occupations in between, all service-oriented. Ask yourself, are you experiencing joy in the value you provide to others, in your current job, career or business?
Purpose is very personal. People of faith would say, “God is guiding you to serve in his image—just follow his promptings.” Then there are individuals where a sense of purpose is thrust upon them unexpectedly. The stories of Terry Fox and Anna Jarmics in this chapter are perfect examples. You’ve hardly started your life, when suddenly—WHAM!—you get hit by a two by four.
Purpose is definitely connected to inspiration. As author Bob Buford says in his book Half Time, for some people, it’s moving from success to significance. Often, wealthy people are not happy, despite their financial success. The answer to filling this void can arise from the simplest awakenings. Like the multi-millionaire whose friend brought him to a war zone in Europe and demonstrated the need for handicapped children to have functional wheelchairs. The delight in the faces of these grateful children was life changing for the businessman whose own life had become one of boredom instead of fulfillment.
Purpose and goals are also linked. When your purpose is ignited, goals become an essential part of your Action Plan. Your vision expands and along with it, the need for measurable targets to help you live your vision. Gen Y’ers like Aaron Trenouth seem to have an awareness of this already. That’s most encouraging!
Review this chapter again carefully, and more than once if you are at a defining moment in your life, where a sense of purpose is calling you to make a major shift in direction.
“When you see what you’re here for, the world begins to mirror your purpose in a magical way. It’s almost as if you suddenly find yourself on a stage, in a play that was written expressly for you.”
—Betty Sue Flowers
Action Steps
The ten questions below were formulated to help you determine if your life is centered around purpose. In combination with the key points in this chapter, they will help you clarify a definition of purpose that works for you. Before responding, think about each question and read the comments. Then simply check “yes”; “don’t know/not sure”; or “no.”
1. Do you recognize what you are really good at and what energizes you?
yes 
don’t know/not sure 
no
Many people never find their niche because they avoid analyzing their career objectives. They fall into jobs and never actually ask themselves, “What do I do well? What type of life do I want to lead? What type of work creates positive energy for me?” It’s important for you to know and use your special skills.
2. Do you fully utilize your most-enjoyed skills?
yes 
don’t know/not sure 
no
Many people stagnate in their jobs. They are capable of doing so much more, yet they are afraid to challenge themselves. There are four separate categories of job expectations. Unfortunately, most people fall into the first three.
A. “It’s just a job. Any job is okay as long as the pay is good and I can do my own thing after work.”
B. “Work has to be regular. I need the benefits, vacations and security of a permanent job.”
C. “I want substance and content in my profession, trade or vocation. I want to use my talents and be challenged.”
D. “Work is not related to money; work is a path to further learning and personal growth. Work focuses me on something that I really believe needs doing in this organization, community, or world.”
3. Does your work further some interest or issue that you care deeply about?
yes 
don’t know/not sure 
no
Caring is the basis of all purpose. It requires an openness to everything around you. To develop care, you need awareness. You should not be burdened by a sense of duty or obligation. When you care naturally, it’s because something has profoundly touched and moved you.
4. Do you see yourself, through work, as making a difference in the world?
yes 
don’t know/not sure 
no
The “rust-out syndrome” is prevalent in today’s society. Because so many people find work to be meaningless, they lose motivation. Work must offer more than money and status; it must offer you the chance to make a difference.
5. Do you view most days with a sense of enthusiasm?
yes 
don’t know/not sure 
no
When you are serving a purpose larger than yourself, you will feel more committed and become more enthusiastic. Remember, the years fly by quickly, so approach each day and each task with zeal.
6. Have you developed your own philosophy of life and success?
yes 
don’t know/not sure 
no
Everyone needs a set of principles to live by. Too many people, however, accept the values of others and never develop their own. They do not reflect enough upon their lives; instead, they worry about getting approval from others. Real power comes from acting out your deep, personal values.
7. Are you taking the necessary risks to live your philosophy?
yes 
don’t know/not sure 
no
No one is ever completely sure of the path to follow, but those with the courage to believe in themselves and their ideas, with the potential of some loss involved, are the true individuals. You must take the risk—have the courage to be true to yourself.
8. Do you feel a sense of meaning and purpose for your life?
yes 
don’t know/not sure 
no
Terry Fox is a wonderful example of someone who had a deeply felt purpose in life. His memory spurs us to raise our own expectations of what we can be. You can choose to focus your vigor on what gives you the deepest feeling. You can occupy your time and talents with people, commitments, ideas and challenges that feel purposeful.
9. Do you have active goals this year relating to your purpose?
yes 
don’t know/not sure 
no
Purpose as a part of our lives serves as inspiration. But it is really our goals that motivate us on a day-to-day basis. Our lives are empty when we do not have something to strive for. Goals, though not always easy to achieve, provide the satisfaction of accomplishment, which in turn enhances our sense of self-worth.
10. Are you living your life to the fullest now instead of hoping that things will work out someday?
yes 
don’t know/not sure 
no
Why wait for the lottery? Use your potential now instead of taking it to the grave. It’s time to live within your values, and with purpose.
Score your results as follows:
• For each yes answer give yourself a 0.
• Not sure or don’t know scores a 1.
• Each no answer scores a 2.
Now add up your score. As these questions are subjective, there are no right or wrong answers. However, use the scoring analysis as a general guideline. Here’s how it works:
If you scored between 0–7, your life is pretty focused, you have a sense of direction, and you are intent on making a difference.
If you scored between 8–15, you have a sense of purpose, but you need to clarify your commitment. Are you really living your values and “walking the talk” every day?
If your score was between 16–20, you run the risk of not using your potential and just wasting your life. Please note: This high score may also mean that you are experiencing some sort of crisis, or major transition.
Now that you have had an opportunity to think about what purpose means to you, construct a one-sentence statement that captures the essence of your life’s purpose as you currently see it.
Choose your words carefully, and as always, be specific.
To reinforce your purpose, embrace this statement every day. Print it on a special card that you can keep close to you. Develop the habit of re-affirming your statement of purpose until it becomes totally ingrained in your consciousness. This is the catalyst that will change your behavior and allow you to actually enjoy living your life on purpose.
If you are not able to create a meaningful statement after doing this questionnaire, don’t be too concerned. Often it takes months (and sometimes years) to clarify this. What will help is to keep searching and thinking about what you are doing and why. The answers will eventually present themselves to you.
