Bonvera CEO, Bob Dickie, recently commented that “the two of the most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you discover your purpose.”
Discovering your “why” is an important first step in decision-making, goal setting and determining how you want to spend your time. What drives you? Why do you get out of bed every morning? Why do you make the choices you make? German philosopher Frederick Neitzsche once said “he who has a why can endure any how.”
Here are 3 questions to ask on your journey to defining your own personal “why.”
1. Are you merely “Doing the Do” or engaging in work that inspires you?
How we spend our work is how we spend our days. The average American spends 90,000 hours of his/her life (approximately 1/3) on the job. Have you dug deep enough to ask yourself why you are doing the job you are doing? Does it help others? Is it fulfilling or is it all about the money? Many entrepreneurs report that once they define their “why” the job no longer feels like a job. It becomes a purpose. When you live your life with purpose you have a new filter that guides your decision-making process, including how you spend your work life.
2. Are you capitalizing on your strengths?
People are rarely passionate about areas in which they have no natural talent. When was the last time you took inventory of your strengths? Maybe you’re an excellent communicator and good at presenting ideas and bringing new people into your tribe. Perhaps you’re an introvert who prefers to support others behind the scenes while working toward a common goal. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. The world needs more people like you.
3. How do you measure your life?
There is a song from the hit Broadway musical RENT called “Seasons of Love.” The lyrics go something like this –
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure?
Measure a year?
Decide how you want to measure your life and then take the necessary steps to live in that truth. Knowing your purpose is empowering – you may take on challenges you never thought possible and your attitude may change along the way. Measure your life in moments that count.
Follow Robert Dickie III on Twitter @RobertDickie and on Taking the Leap Podcast. You can tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your favorite podcast player.