The Six Pillars of Personal Leadership: Purpose

Alright, so the personal leader-ship has set sail and we’re on our journey. Last month, we explored the benefits of personal responsibility. This month will be all about the second pillar of Personal Leadership…

Purpose

“Purpose. It’s that little flame that lights a fire under your a**. Purpose. It keeps you going strong, like a car with a full tank of gas…” – Princeton, ‘Avenue Q’

Purpose is the thing that drives us. Without it, we’re a rudderless ship, drifting in a sea of untapped potential and missed opportunity. Sure, we might have a spark of inspiration in the wee hours of the night that nudges us in a new and exciting direction; or perhaps a book, film, or podcast will motivate us to get up and go! But as quick as it arrives, that feeling will often subside, and the answers we were seeking can become elusive and hard to pin down.

To find our purpose, our specific purpose, we must crystallise our thinking, until it’s as focused and precise as Goldfinger’s laser.

“You are looking at an industrial laser, which emits an extra ordinary light, not to be found in nature. It can project a spot on the moon, or at closer range, cut through solid metal…”― Auric Goldfinger from ‘Goldfinger’ (1964)

Making a choice

Essentially, purpose is all about decision-making. Which would be simple if human beings weren’t so complicated. Not only are we subject to outside pressures – the influence of family, friends, society, institutions – but we are also highly skilled at talking ourself out of ideas, second guessing our decisions, and using procrastination as a distraction tactic to avoid the things that scare us.

Unless we crystallise our thinking, we will never achieve the results we desire.

But how can we believe in them, if everyone, even ourselves, is telling us otherwise?

Habits

Habits determine much of what we think and what we do, and most of them are formed through conditioning. Take “brushing your teeth” as an example: we have been conditioned to treat tooth brushing as a habit because we know that if we don’t do it, we will end up with bad breath, sore gums and tooth decay. We brush twice a day for healthy teeth and gums. It’s a habit.

However, and this is the important part, even our most conditioned habits are still determined by our own free choice. We choose to brush our teeth. Unlike blinking or breathing, which is an unconscious action our bodies take to stay alive, tooth brushing takes a level of conscious effort, and therefore is our choice.

Some of us may have been conditioned by those around us to not believe we can reach our goals. But since conditioned habits are determined by our own free choice, we have the power to change our destiny and take command of our lives.

No matter what people think. No matter what we think. We can choose to crystallise our thinking, lock in on our goals with laser-precision, and get the leader-ship back on course.

Dreams and desires

If all of this sounds a bit intense… it’s because it is. If it were easy, we’d all be doing it. But making a decision and sticking to it is vital if you wish to succeed. And it’s scary. But it shouldn’t be a nightmare.

To crystallise your thinking and clarify your purpose, first you have to dream. Dreams are where it all begins. So take note. Write them down. Keep them visible so they stay in the forefront of your mind; so that James Bond laser always has a target.

Dreaming is the fun part, so make the most of it. It’s a great way to check in and see if you’re still on track.

If you find yourself dissatisfied with the process you are making, it means that your purpose and goals are not clearly defined. So, go back to that initial dream and remind yourself why you made the decision to pursue it in the first place.

And remember: you have the choice to change your dreams. People evolve. And so too our dreams and desires. There’s no shame in changing your mind.

Next month, it’s time to make a plan. Which also happens to be the Third Pillar of Personal Leadership. See you then!

For more insights into Personal Leadership, click the link to read the Orange & Blue UK blog!

Alright, so the personal leader-ship has set sail and we’re on our journey. Last month, we explored the benefits of personal responsibility. This month will be all about the second pillar of Personal Leadership…

Purpose

“Purpose. It’s that little flame that lights a fire under your a**. Purpose. It keeps you going strong, like a car with a full tank of gas…” – Princeton, ‘Avenue Q’

Purpose is the thing that drives us. Without it, we’re a rudderless ship, drifting in a sea of untapped potential and missed opportunity. Sure, we might have a spark of inspiration in the wee hours of the night that nudges us in a new and exciting direction; or perhaps a book, film, or podcast will motivate us to get up and go! But as quick as it arrives, that feeling will often subside, and the answers we were seeking can become elusive and hard to pin down.

To find our purpose, our specific purpose, we must crystallise our thinking, until it’s as focused and precise as Goldfinger’s laser.

“You are looking at an industrial laser, which emits an extra ordinary light, not to be found in nature. It can project a spot on the moon, or at closer range, cut through solid metal…”― Auric Goldfinger from ‘Goldfinger’ (1964)

Making a choice

Essentially, purpose is all about decision-making. Which would be simple if human beings weren’t so complicated. Not only are we subject to outside pressures – the influence of family, friends, society, institutions – but we are also highly skilled at talking ourself out of ideas, second guessing our decisions, and using procrastination as a distraction tactic to avoid the things that scare us.

Unless we crystallise our thinking, we will never achieve the results we desire.

But how can we believe in them, if everyone, even ourselves, is telling us otherwise?

Habits

Habits determine much of what we think and what we do, and most of them are formed through conditioning. Take “brushing your teeth” as an example: we have been conditioned to treat tooth brushing as a habit because we know that if we don’t do it, we will end up with bad breath, sore gums and tooth decay. We brush twice a day for healthy teeth and gums. It’s a habit.

However, and this is the important part, even our most conditioned habits are still determined by our own free choice. We choose to brush our teeth. Unlike blinking or breathing, which is an unconscious action our bodies take to stay alive, tooth brushing takes a level of conscious effort, and therefore is our choice.

Some of us may have been conditioned by those around us to not believe we can reach our goals. But since conditioned habits are determined by our own free choice, we have the power to change our destiny and take command of our lives.

No matter what people think. No matter what we think. We can choose to crystallise our thinking, lock in on our goals with laser-precision, and get the leader-ship back on course.

Dreams and desires

If all of this sounds a bit intense… it’s because it is. If it were easy, we’d all be doing it. But making a decision and sticking to it is vital if you wish to succeed. And it’s scary. But it shouldn’t be a nightmare.

To crystallise your thinking and clarify your purpose, first you have to dream. Dreams are where it all begins. So take note. Write them down. Keep them visible so they stay in the forefront of your mind; so that James Bond laser always has a target.

Dreaming is the fun part, so make the most of it. It’s a great way to check in and see if you’re still on track.

If you find yourself dissatisfied with the process you are making, it means that your purpose and goals are not clearly defined. So, go back to that initial dream and remind yourself why you made the decision to pursue it in the first place.

And remember: you have the choice to change your dreams. People evolve. And so too our dreams and desires. There’s no shame in changing your mind.

Next month, it’s time to make a plan. Which also happens to be the Third Pillar of Personal Leadership. See you then!

For more insights into Personal Leadership, click the link to read the Orange & Blue UK blog!

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