Emerging Leaders - Session #1: Passion vs. Purpose

Series 1

Finding Purpose Introduction In this series, we will review passion versus purpose and learn the distinction between the two.

Additionally, we will cover the history of tribes and how traditions of old embody the essence of successful relationships today. In conclusion, we will explore how you can uncover your purpose.

EMERGING LEADERS

Objectives Upon completion of this series, we will have reviewed the following: • Passion vs. Purpose • Find Your Tribe • Uncover Your Purpose

Session #1 - Passion vs. Purpose You might come to realize there is a gap between what you’re doing at work and what you believe you’re called to do with your life. For some, closing that gap might mean switching companies to work for a more purpose-driven brand. For others, it may mean going back to school to train for a different line of work altogether. Working with purpose requires the courage to pivot in a different direction when your soul tells you it’s time.

Sometimes, people discover their purpose in the aftermath of painful experiences. Other times, people are pulled toward a societal problem they feel they can’t ignore or an issue they “can’t not” devote their lives to trying to solve. This is what we call vocational courage. It’s recognizing when there’s a gap between what you are doing, and what you believe you’re made to do, and taking action to close that gap.

Individuals and companies benefit when people come to work every day motivated by a sense of calling. Happiness, then, is not the goal, but rather a byproduct of living on what is called the “purpose path.” In a sense, you don’t find your vocation—your vocation finds you.

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Put your purpose first. It might sound simple, but basing your life on your purpose requires you to first answer some fundamental questions. If you can address the What, How, and Why of your life and your work, you can direct your purpose toward your community and your world.

• What: What are the services that you offer at your organization? What do you do at work? These are your “what”s, the product of your work.

• How: Several companies may offer similar services. However, each company’s, or person’s “how” communicates what makes them special and sets them apart from others who do something similar.

• “How”s are the organization’s or individual’s strengths, values, and guiding principles. They can also include the company’s differentiating value proposition, proprietary process, or unique selling proposition (USP).

• Why: Your “why” is your purpose. If you or your organization can clearly state your “why,” you can do something very few people and organizations can do. You need to know why you do what you do.

It’s the vision that pulls you out of bed in the morning and it provides a clear answer to questions like these: • Why did you get out of bed this morning?

• Why does your organization exist, other than your products, growth and profit?

• Why should anyone care that your organization exists?

Say you have two educators who teach the same subject. They teach the same age group at the same school, and they have the same hours. The content in the curriculum is identical—their “What” is exactly the same.

One educator might approach the content from an analytical perspective, guiding her classroom choices by the latest pedagogical research and judging her students’ achievements through traditional teaching methods.

The other educator might make decisions based on prior experience, discussions with his or her fellow teachers and track student progress more intuitively.

Different students will be attracted to different approaches, and both educators might have similar results.

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Money is not a purpose. Revenues, profits, salaries and other monetary measurements, are simply the results of what we do. Your purpose is about your contribution, the inspiration you provide to others, and your ability to impact and serve others.

Do Not Confuse Making Money with “Your Why” Let’s be honest here -- most people are working to earn money. While that might seem to be the obvious “why,” we encourage you to rethink this. Money is part of the picture, but it is a result. It’s not the goal/purpose/idea that inspires any of us to get out of bed in the morning. Think about what you want to earn that money for. Is it for freedom? To travel? To provide a better lifestyle for your kids? Is it to show others how much you have achieved? Money isn’t the thing that drives people. Rather, to understand your “why”, you need to go much deeper. Then you can better understand what motivates and inspires you and your organization.

EMERGING LEADERS

Professional Workshop What: What are the services you offer at your organization? What do you do at work?

What do you enjoy about your job?

How: Several companies may offer similar services. However, each company’s, or person’s “how” communicates what makes them special and sets them apart from others who do something similar. How is your organization or company different than all the rest?

Why: Why does your organization exist? Why should anyone care about your organization?

Personal Workshop What: What makes you happy? What makes you feel empowered?

How: How are you different? What makes you unique?

Why: Why are you here?

EMERGING LEADERS

EMERGING LEADERS

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