Purpose, Part II
The Heart of Business - Purpose, Part II
By Craig Galati
Even Internet sites enjoy a summer break, apparently. The In Business Las Vegas Web site took a few unscheduled days off last week, and my blog was part of that hiatus, but we are back now and refreshed!
As we discussed last week, all people have an internal purpose—a reason why they are here and do what they do. We may not admit it, but we do know what gives us pleasure and what we like to work on. The big question is: Do we have the courage to follow our hearts? Many people remain at their jobs for a long time, not wanting to risk losing what they have for the unknown. Over time, many of these people become cynical about their work, their co-workers, and their employers. They count the minutes until retirement, hoping it will bring meaning to their lives. I believe, however, if you wait until then, you’ll miss tremendous opportunities available to you now.
So what does this have to do with business? As I wrote last week, businesses have a responsibility to articulate why a company exists and what the underlying value sets of the organization. And I believe, we, as owners have the responsibility to help our employees find their calling—either with our companies or somewhere else.
“I know, I know, Craig,but we can’t find enough people now!” I hear that all the time. But don’t you want the people who work for you to be excited and come to work with passion and purpose? The alternative is to be like many companies who just bump along, making a reasonable living, yet never reaching their potential. For my money, I’d rather fail at trying to align the hearts and souls of people with the organization, than succeed financially in a world devoid of purpose and passion. I guess it’s a matter of perspective; neither is right or wrong, in general, but there is a right and wrong for each of us specifically.
I had a friend who was very unhappy in his job. He made six figures yet told me he couldn’t stand getting up to go to his “dead-end job.” All he had to look forward to was his pension. I asked him what he was passionate about. He told me in a tongue-in-cheek way, “I really like beer!” “Great,” I told him, “at least we have something to work with.”
He could be a beer distributor, brewer, or brew taster; write a beer review, publish a beer magazine, open a brew pub, design beer labels, grow beer ingredients, or open a home-brew store. The possibilities are almost endless.
It really doesn’t matter to anyone else but you what you are passionate about. Find your calling and align your life with it. Follow your heart. The money will find you; you must believe that. My good friend and mentor frames it this way: What will you do with your precious, short life?
Find your purpose and passion. Unleash your potential.
Questions for thought:
- Are you following your heart?
- If not, do you have the courage to change?
Until next week…
Craig
August 16th, 2007 at 12:11 am
I turned 50 this year and in some ways just woke up. I believe I am now following my heart. I have many assets to offer those who value them and not much time for those who do not. I believe in the strength of mutual relationships. I am currently working hard to enhance existing meaningful relationships and to create new ones. This is not always easy - it takes time.
I have learned in the past 20 months that to follow your heart takes a bit of sacrifice too. So far the money has not found me, as a matter of fact, I am very close to the breaking point. Each day, now I examine my heart’s path and always seem to find the faith that my core values will eventually secure stability.
I believe in what you are saying and I am living that belief. But make no mistake, following your heart is not for the weak of heart.
Thank you for the writings, it is good, thought provoking stuff.
August 16th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Harry:
Thank you for your words of wisdom. I’m sure other readers will connect with what you are going through. Great things will come to those who follow their heart and persevere.
August 17th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
I also resonate with this article. I quit a job that was paying me the most I’d ever made at that point because my heart was not in that field. Every day on that job I was filled with the stress and anxiety of not fulfilling my dreams, and of not “belonging.” One day I decided to quit, and made a 5-year plan to earn a graduate degree and to obtain a job in a field where my passions lie.
While in school I endured new stressors, including periods of abject poverty on a student’s stipend. My relationship ended. I was in danger of becoming homeless. At several points I thought of giving up. But after each re-evaluation of my path, I would always realize that I was still moving in the right direction, and so would find a way to persevere.
After three years on this journey I have found a job - one I would never have imagined three years before - that fits my values and allows me to live out my dreams. I can now live as I believe; my work and my passions are in accordance. The icing on the cake is that I am also no longer in abject poverty! Following your heart, as Harry stated, is definitely not for the weak of heart. I was lucky to have supportive friends, families and mentors who encouraged me along the way. Most importantly, however, I maintained my focus on my goals, honored my passions, and followed my heart. I am stronger and happier because of that decision.
August 20th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Craig:
Thanks for sending me the link to your series on The Heart of Business. I enjoyed reading and concur with your thoughts about leadership and the importance of relating your personal passions to your business objectives. This is good and valid, but it’s also very idealistic. Unfortunately, large portions of humanity are still very close to just barely surviving. In our affluent society, the line defining survival is very artificial, since it’s quite easy for nearly everyone to get enough to eat. But the economic system and the expectations of our society have raised the bar defining survival to a much higher level. As a consequence, many many people feel compelled to engage in occupations that have no real attraction for them only because they have enchained themselves to the materialistic goals promoted by our consumerist society and because, through public policy, our economic system forces upon us many financial obligations that have nothing to do with real joy and satisfaction. So when you say that it takes courage for a person to quit an unsatisfying job, it’s no trivial matter. They could be risking survival as it has been defined by or for them.