I rece&nbsntly had a client ask me, “Can you help me with the idea of purpose?” He said he was struggling with knowing how he could fulfill his purpose. He has been involved in high level technology for years and currently occupies a leadership position. Yet, he still sensed that something was missing. Are you like my client? Do you sometimes wonder, “What is my purpose?” How about in your business? Do you have clarity on the purpose of your business? The answer is connected to your values and your unique value proposition. There are a few things that are important ot know and understand about purpose and the fulfillment of it. Your purpose is fulfilled in several ways. There are 4 principles of fulfilling your purpose and I will share them with you here:
- Purpose is always served – You will not fulfill your purpose outside of being a benefit to others because purpose is always served. As a matter of fact, you can serve purpose in many ways. I can take out the garbage, clean the toilets and many other things as well. There is serving purpose and there is fulfilling your best purpose. So, ask yourself, ‘What is the area of service that you naturally and even passionately bring?”
- Purpose is always fulfilled on purpose – Fulfilling your purpose requires intentionality. You will never accidentally fulfill your purpose. There are steps you will need to take and take and then, take again. Consistency will be your best attribute in creating enough brand awareness to open the doors that allow you to serve your purpose.
- Purpose is always fulfilled within the bigger purpose – Your purpose is always a piece of the bigger picture. Much like the sheetrock in your house, it serves a purpose within the bigger purpose. Although sheetrock is rigid, it would never be an ideal table or even a door. Sheetrock would simply disintegrate in both of those applications. In the same way, your purpose will always be fulfilled within the bigger purpose. You may fulfill your purpose even within someone else’s grander purpose and even that person/company serves a purpose bigger than themselves. No one can be all things to all people, which is why we need others and their gifts to combine with our own. You will never be the big picture, but you are a very important part of the big picture. And this brings us to the 4th principle of purpose…
- Purpose is best fulfilled through your giftedness – Your giftedness is your uniqueness. Just like sheetrock has a unique quality that allows it to serve its best purpose, you also have a uniqueness that is unique to you. This is called your giftedness. While you may serve multiple purposes, the purpose that is attached to your unique giftedness is the one that has the highest impact. By aligning your focus, whether personally or professionally, with your giftedness, your purpose will serve your brand by impacting others in a big way. Understanding your purpose and also the timing of it can help you prepare for it and maximize it once it shows up. Just remember, it is always served and as long as you are in service to others, your greatest purpose will reveal itself to you in perfect time.
