Recently, I attended a local school event entitled “Destination Purpose.” Parents and students were challenged to define our life purpose and to resolve to live true to that purpose each day. I came away impressed than even 12 year olds can define a life purpose for themselves, even if it is a bit vague and dreamy.
I thought about my own life purpose and especially about how it is expressed through my solely-owned small business – Training Education Management LLC. Though I have expressed it in many ways over my lifetime, my overall purpose in life has always been to be of use to others – to serve people through education, training, counseling, consulting, writing and volunteering my time to help people develop skills and attitudes that lead to their future success. My business’ mission – to provide custom training and human resource solutions that improve performance and the bottom-line – is a direct out-growth of my personal mission to serve others in their growth and development as human beings.
This all sounds pretty lofty and noble, I admit, but I try to accualize it every day through my actions and interactions with others, including my family, customers and colleagues. I look at my relations with others as a personal opportunity to be of service and hope that they will reciprocate. I do this not out of a sense of selflessness, although it might appear that way. I do it because I truly enjoy the personal satisfaction and fulfillment I feel when I know someone has benefited from my counsel. I treasure the sound of gratitude in their voice and their glowing testimonials as an affirmation of the good that I have done.
In a larger sense, being of service to others’ development has a much bigger payoff. Beyond my own personal purpose, I believe strongly that each human being should contribute something to make the world a better place than we found it at birth. For me, the larger goal is to create a freer and more just world, where people can pursue their dreams in peace. I have found that achieving this goal has to begin with individual awakenings that education and personal development can incite. As John Lennon once famously sang, “You say you want a revolution? You better free your mind instead.” All social change starts with individual change. As I improve individual lives through my work and personal life, I am confident I am sowing the seeds of a better world for my children and all the world’s children.
So, what’s your purpose?
