Coffee Filters and Purpose
Jonah Erbe
President at Leadership Management International, Inc. - Developing Leaders and Organizations to their Full Potential! - Author of "Excellence for Influence"
If you know me, you know I love coffee. I absolutely love that first sip feeling in the morning to get the day going. Even better than the first sip is the process of making a fresh pot in the morning. The process of pouring the hot water over some fresh coffee grounds is one that always makes me feel awake and ready to take on the day.
A few days ago I had a realization: a coffee filter is a lot like a personal mission statement and purpose.
As I was making my coffee, I watched as the hot water poured over the grounds and dripped the coffee that I would then consume through the filter. As I watched this normal, every day moment occur, I thought about my mission statement and my purpose.
A personal mission statement is a filter through which all of our decisions can be clearly made. If a decision does not pass the filter test, it is not done and is thrown out like the coffee grounds. If a decision passes through the filter and aligns with the mission statement and purpose, it is then consumed and acted upon.
If I were to not use a filter and just pour hot water over some grounds, I can guarantee you I would end up drinking the worst cup of coffee I have ever had. It would not taste good, it would not make me want to start the day, and I would most likely become sick.
However, when filtering the coffee through the filter, only the best is left to consume. What I end up drinking is that which will get me energized and focused. The same goes for all of our decisions.
If we blindly make decisions with no filter (mission statement in writing or purpose), then our lives will begin to look like a pot of coffee with no filter, full of grounds that leave us empty, sick, and wanting more. When we put every decision through the filter of our mission statement and purpose, our life is full of energy, good choices, and motivation to achieve our goals.
If you have never taken the time to write out your personal mission statement to guide your life's decisions, I cannot recommend it highly enough, especially during times of such uncertainty like we are currently facing. Don't let another day go by without your filter in place.
Business & Performance Enhancement Coach
4 年Just to add to this, the water has to be hot, otherwise there won't be any coffee! Hot water represents challenges. That's what makes the personal mission more purposeful.