In Part 1 of Finding Purpose, I mentioned my surprise at a recent business meeting on how COVID-19 had a devastating psychological impact on coworkers and my company’s program to help employees and clients regain a sense of purpose.
Part 2 will probably read more like one of those cheesy “summary” book reviews, and even the website has a “used car salesman” vibe that bothers me. However, if I knew then what I know now and how much the Success on Purpose program would improve my life, the asking price of $99.95 would be low. Full Disclosure: I receive no compensation for this testimony endorsement of the ebook; I have no experience with the coaching bundle.
In Steve Leveen’s book “The Little Guide to Your Well-Read Life,” he recommends creating “a list of books that have meant something to you... a sort of book biography, or bookography.”[1] Success On purpose is the first ebook to make my list. I noted in my journal that “this book is unique because it is the first time someone laid out exactly how to identify my core values and, more importantly, how to live them.”
I’ll skip the introductory chapters. I think most people understand the power of having a purpose in your life. The core of the ebook “Success on Purpose” and the exact place my company chooses to start is Chapter 5: Values.
“First of all, a VALUE is a thing - a noun. It is something you believe to be highly desirable - something of great importance, worth or usefulness to you.” Values are those things, i.e., freedom, beauty, love, and wealth, “that you have come to believe are either the best things in life or the best things about your life.” (Haas et al. p.70)
The book lists words that the authors have identified as values. Nine pages in all, about 30 words per page. The word and definition help you determine if the value represents the “best thing in life or the best thing about your life.”
Things like:
Accomplishment: success in completion; an achievement
Affluence: Plentiful; abundance; great quantity of wealth.
Authenticity: quality of being real, genuine, trustworthy, bonefide.
Belonging: close, secure relationships
Challenge: test of ones mettle and abilities; defeating, prevailing over obstacles.
Comfort: ease, well-being; contentment; solace.
Diligence: Steady attention and effort, as to one’s occupation.
Exotic: unusual or different.
These are not the typical values we think about when trying to create a list. Honesty and Integrity are also on the list, but so are Intimacy, Humor, and Hope. Along with Logic, Moderation, Modesty, and Music.
The goal is to read through the list and select those words and definitions that are “the best things” in your life right now (or the best things about your life) or that you feel could be one of those things if you dedicated more time toward the value.
When I completed the exercise, I ranked each word 1-5. One is low, meaning, nope, I don’t care if this is a significant part of my life or not. Going through the list takes time to do it correctly. Don’t rush. Then I took all the words ranked 4-5 and tried to combine groupings, i.e., words with similar meanings such as Money, Wealth, Power, and Thrift. Then I choose the word that more closely aligns with what I believe. For example, Wealth: material possessions; riches, money; amassed riches is uniquely different than Well-Being: A state of health, happiness, and prosperity. Prosperity can be defined as having material possessions, riches, money, and amassed riches, which is the exact definition of wealth. Still, the attitudes toward the two are different (if that makes sense).
Narrow the list down to Ten; truthfully, five will allow you to create an extraordinary life. I’ve repeated the exercise several times over the years to see if anything has changed or if I did it correctly the first time. Although my core ten have stayed the same, my top three values are what drives my life.
Rounding out the trifecta is Roles and Vision. Roles are simply the hats you wear in life. Roles can be Father, Brother, Husband, Son, Church member, Community member, Skier, Mountain Climber, etc. Some roles we are born into, some roles we take on, such as project leader or volunteer. One thing I learned the hard way is that whatever role you choose to assume, it had better contain at least three of your core values, or it will be challenging for you to find the motivation to complete the role to the best of your ability.
Vision is what you expect to accomplish in the role. Success on purpose has you envision a triangle. On the outside are Roles, Vision, and Values. The center is your mission. I’ve always felt that one of the most significant issues with goal-setting books, seminars, and instructions in everyone uses different words to describe the same thing. A mission, in this sense, is a goal. David Allen would call it a 30,000-foot goal. A mission/goal is a specific objective or outcome you want to achieve in the real world. The goal is a particular target.
Each role and your vision for that role combine with personal values to create something extraordinary in your life. E.R. Haas says, “Each mission you create... becomes your job and a huge part of your life. Each role becomes one more reason why you are here. You are most useful to yourself and others when you are an active participant in this crazy game of life.” My favorite quote from Mr. Haas says, “If you have always dreamed of spending a summer in Paris learning to paint, then your purpose in life includes finding a way to Paris in the Springtime.” (Haas et al. p.125)
It proves that your goals and dreams don’t have to be world-changing or earth-shattering. Of course, they can be; however, that will depend on your roles, talent, and skill level.
Once you have identified what you value, the reality is that word represents a “key of finding goals that will make you happy.” (Haas et al.) For example, adventure is number 2 on my list of values. Knowing that adventure is one of the “best things in my life” or one of the “best things about my life,” finding goals that will bring happiness into my life is as easy as an internet search for adventure, then looking at the images. I’ll see things like Adventure Racing, Mountain Biking, Kayaking, Wake Boarding, Para Gliding, Scuba Diving, etc. Pick one and try it. You might find, as I have, your list of missions growing toward a highly fulfilling and purpose-filled life.
References:
[1] Leveen, Steve. The Little Guide to Your Well-Read Life: How to Get More Books in Your Life and More Life from Your Books. Levenger Press, 2005. p.14.
Haas, E R, and Kent C Madson. *Success on Purpose: The Starting Point for Purpose-Driven Success*. Think TQ, Inc., 2007, https://thinktq.com.