What Works: Define Your Purpose

I was so touched by the response to the Advanced Gratitude Journaling class I taught last Friday. Whenever I can make a difference in someone’s life, I get a deep sense of satisfaction. I feel it takes me one step closer to fulfilling my life’s purpose.I am committed to learning, growing, inspiring others, and making a difference in the world.

How does one come to know their purpose? All I can say is this. If you are looking for a teachable moment, sometimes you will find it in the strangest of places. I didn’t drill down into my specific reason for being until one day when Facebook asked me to. It asked me for an intro. But, it didn’t give me more than 15 words to boil it all down. At first, this created some anxiety. How could I refine my purpose in just 15 words? Was it even possible to get that focused?

I started looking at what others were doing. Some people opted out of this section completely. That was an option. I could just opt out. Yet, the discomfort created by the exercise urged me forward. There was something to learn here. I continued to search. Some people used quotes from others, scriptures, or proverbs from other cultures. That provided a little more insight. But, when people ask me what I do, I don’t throw a quote from the Dali Lama in their face. I have to be able to articulate.

This wasn’t an elevator pitch. This was a distinct, one sentence, mission statement for my life. Finally, I got down to writing. To start, I wrote down a list of things I love. Then, I wrote down a list of projects I do. Finally, I wrote a list of dreams for myself.

Dreams (Thoughts) + Action = Reality
I decided I was going to write an actionable statement that would be a guiding light for my life. I looked at my list and noticed that I loved to learn. I was considering going to grad school. I was also a self-proclaimed workshop junkie, who soaked in talks like a sponge.

That learning led to another thing for me, growth. I detested the idea of stagnation. In fact, to me, stagnation was death. Yet I learned this learning and growth thing wasn’t just about me. I relish helping others. I love seeing the lights turn on. It’s one of the great joys of my life to hold a class and see the tears as a breakthrough occurs, to be an agent of change. This leads me to another formula, which I use when I do change management consulting.

Change = Discomfort x Motivation to Change x Process to Change > Resistance to Change
In my coaching and consulting practice, I help others create change. I work with discomfort. I help find motivation. I construct process. I identify points of resistance. Thus, I strive to make a difference in the world. There it was, in black and white, my purpose.

You can do this with your life. It can give your career focus. You can guide your business with a simple principle and communicate it to all. This isn’t a long winded mission statement, or just a forward looking vision statement. This is a simple focusing statement. This way, when the inevitable hills and valleys of life, career, and business become visible, you have a heading. And, when you are out of alignment and off track, you know it.

This week’s exercise: Give it a shot. Make some lists, find the common theme, and express your purpose. You can focus this on your life in general, your business, or your career. Post it in your Facebook intro or in the comments below. If you are struggling, you know where to find me.

SEE DIANE SPEAK LIVE
Schedule a customized workshop for you, your company, or your friends.

October 8, 2016 from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM: Women’s Conference 2016 at The Carson Nugget. Closing speaker at 3:00 PM. Purchase your ticket here.

What Works Coaching
Diane Dye Hansen is the Chief Inspiration Officer of What Works Coaching, a business coaching and marketing services firm based in Carson City. She has 20 years of experience working with top corporations, growing businesses, motivated entrepreneurs, and individuals hungry for a fresh start. Diane holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Marketing from Cal State San Bernardino. She is also a candidate for a Master’s degree in Communications Management from the University of Southern California. Her column appears every Monday, and sometimes Tuesday, in Carson Now.