How often do you ask yourself, why am I doing this? This could be a reference to your work, leisure activities, relationship or fill in the blank as this question can be applied to so many areas. For the sake of narrowing the scope of this question, I will direct it towards your work, as we all spend countless hours devoted to our occupations. Unless you won the lottery, have a trust fund or have figured out a way to having a streaming income with little effort applied, you will likely will be working most of your life. Given this reality, and thinking about my last blog article on The Gift of Time what if you woke up each morning and had a job or career which gave you a sense of purpose?
One of my favorite books is Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath, and now my second favorite book is Destination Unstoppable by Maureen Electa Monte. The reason I like Destination Unstoppable is because it helped me to focus and crystalize a professional purpose I have been driving towards, and which is to make other people see and capitalize on their strengths. When you are able to focus, and capitalize on your strengths, everything starts to align both professionally and personally, and you can see more clearly what your purpose is.
Working with sales and marketing teams my entire career, I did not realize one of my strengths was something which allowed me to see in others strengths they may not have either seen, or been fully aware of themselves. The particular strength I am referring to is what Strengths Finder refers to as “Individualization”. In essence this means I see each person as a “snowflake” and all the special and significant characteristics which make them so unique. Having this strength is something I readily share with others, and has allowed me to help them see the potential they have, and which they may not have realized or yet achieved. When individuals understand their potential, and can focus on it, magical things begin to happen. They also have a renewed sense of joy and purpose doing what they are spending their career time on.
Referring back to the book Destination Unstoppable, this is a true and amazing story. The book chronicles how a mid-western prep school hockey team came together as an unbeatable team in a short period of time, doing so towards the end of their season, and which focused them on how to win their state championship. There were a number of factors which contributed towards the team coming together and winning the state championship. Ultimately the fact each team member was focused on having their own strengths contribute to the team each day on and off the ice, was what made the difference in their performance. Imagine if you could be focused on applying your unique strengths to your career each day?
Let’s assume you are not in a career which is firing up your passion and fueling your purpose of how you are spending your time each day. Have you considered either finding another role within the company or researching companies who are selling products or services which would be in stronger alignment with your career passion? I know this advice is commonly given to people either early in their career, or considered when you have been in an unsatisfying career choice for a period of time. Regardless of what you may be thinking, please keep in mind you are never what I will call “stuck”. If you are spending your valuable time working in a job or career which is not fueling your desire to be purposeful, I encourage you to consider changing this situation. Yes, you have the power to do this. Ask others for help if you do not know where to start, but please get started on finding your career purpose. It’s out there for you to discover. Now go find it.
Kathleen E. Murphy is the Founder, Chief Strategist and CMO of Market Me Too. Market Me Too has expertise in bridging marketing and sales teams and providing organizations techniques to accelerate their market growth, regardless of the industry they are in, or the business stage they are presently at. Contact Kathleen at kathymurphy@me.com.