Strengths and Purpose
May 12th, 2008 Posted in General, Leadership, NewsletterThe research is clear.
People are most energized when they are using their strengths to serve a bigger purpose beyond themselves. Therefore a few questions you and I should be asking ourselves are:
- What are my strengths?
- What are my gifts?
- Am I using my strengths and gifts on a daily basis?
- If not, then how can I use my strengths at work and in life to serve my team and a bigger purpose?
- What is my bigger purpose?
I asked myself these questions a number of years ago and it literally changed my life and it’s why you are reading this newsletter now. After reaching her breaking point my wife finally had enough of my negativity and complaining and gave me an ultimatum. Change or I was off “the bus.” In fact if you read The Energy Bus you should know that the main character, George, was based on me.
I remember taking long walks and asking why I was so miserable. Why was my life not the way I had hoped it would be? I realized it was because I wasn’t doing what I loved; I wasn’t using my strengths and I wasn’t living my purpose. I thought back to my twenty’s when I co-owned a restaurant in Buckhead, Atlanta and started a non-profit, The Phoenix Organization that united young professionals to raise money and volunteer for youth focused charities. I realized I was happiest and most energized when I was talking, writing, uniting and organizing and doing something that had a positive impact. I knew I needed to do something like that again but I wasn’t sure what.
On my long walks I prayed and asked God to show me my purpose. I said, “use me for your purpose and guide me towards my purpose.” Within a week, “writing and speaking” kept popping into my head. I was filled with the desire to inspire others the way I wanted to be inspired. So I started researching and writing which eventually lead to a lot of speaking and now I clearly know that my purpose is to help other people live theirs.
So what you are your strengths? Are you using them? If not, how can you use them to serve a bigger purpose? If you are not sure what your bigger purpose is then simply ask how you can serve and make a positive impact. When you do this, instead of finding your purpose your purpose will find you.
Realize that for many of us we can live our bigger purpose in the work we do everyday. For example, I know a restaurant manager whose purpose is to truly serve his customers and develop his employees into leaders. I know a mortgage professional, David Kuiper who sees his bigger purpose as saving marriages because he’s noticed more failing marriages as couples lose their homes during this mortgage crisis. He’s not just in the mortgage business. He’s now in the marriage saving business. A bigger purpose indeed.
I believe that inside each of us our strengths wait to be identified, revealed and expressed. Our purpose calls to us and says “You and your strengths don’t exist for your own enjoyment. You are here to contribute; to serve; to make an impact. You are meant to use your strengths and live your purpose and let your purpose live through you.” When you realize this and take action you will not only energize yourself but benefit your team and the greater good in the process.
Have you found your bigger purpose at work? How do you live it and share it each day? Share your thoughts / comments here.
Stay Positive!
-Jon Gordon
www.JonGordon.com
4 Responses to “Strengths and Purpose”
By Ashley on May 12, 2008
Never have used a blog before.
By SNEHASIS NANDA on May 12, 2008
1. Set an example to work with the spirit of brotherhood, instead of trying to establish dominance as a senior executive normally tries to do with the juniors may be for some right or wrong reasons.
2.Try to be truthful as much as possible, be honest, simple, egoless and see the divinity within each person.
3. Be creative with new ideas and give respect to others who are helping with new ideas.
4. See the organisation/community/nations goal ahead of individual goal.
5. Give freedom to coworkers/juniors to achieve their goal and provide necessary suuport to encourage their efforts, even if it is meant for taking action against the people creating negative environment or discouraging the other staffs to distract them from the organisational/national goal.
6. Encourage people to become positive by awakening the spirit within them through reading of positive mental attitude books/interacting with such kind of people from time to time.
7. People should be encouraged to listen the words of spiritual leaders (may not be of any particular religion), who are trying to establish the humanity approach of each individual.
8. Afterall, see the interest of other person as per his/her likings and encourage him/her to work in that direction only.
9. Finally no body should be kept under any kind of bondage to prove something or to work for any goal, as it will reduce the potential of that person in achieving the goal of life. Rather they shoul be encouraged to achieve the goal with the environment of competativeness and be rewarded if achieved the goal.
By Terry on May 12, 2008
I am currently working in a remote indigenous community on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. My goal is to help the community identify, discover and achieve their goals - for themselves as well as their community.
At this stage I am learning as much as I can about the people and they way they live.
How can I do this without “inflicting” my western ways on their lives?
By Erick on May 13, 2008
Live the life for bigger purpose. Bring up the wonderful strength and power within. Reach beyond. Serve and give heart. Take action bravely. Light up soul. Spread kindness. Deliver beauty. Inspire around. Smile consistently. Laugh more.
We are blessed with wonderful strengths to serve our bigger purpose