What Matters?

What Matters?

“Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it” ― Gautama Buddha

Simon Sinek, author, speaker, consultant, and leadership expert made a huge impact on the world with his TED Talk, “Start with Why”. I am sure we have all seen it, or at least heard about it. Mr. Sinek speaks of “our why” as the thing that matters most, not only to us, but to others. It is “our why” that others align with, that others find so engaging. It is “our why” that others fall in love with, that others will pledge allegiance too.

If “our why” is so important, so powerful, so completely impactful, why is his talk such a breakthrough and monumental piece? Why? It is difficult to actually articulate what really matters to us, that is what I assert is why.

“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche

From the time we begin school and through most of our careers, the question of what matters, is really never asked. Look at our schools, what is there purpose, to have kids be “college and career ready”. Throughout our lives we are taught “skills and trades” yet are we taught how to think, how to question, how to inquire, and how to be with the unknown? Not really. What is the cost of this?

I’m not quite sure why, maybe it is me beginning the 7th decade of wandering around on this planet, or maybe it is the impact of the true realization of the temporary nature of our existence. Or it could be, this is really the journey I am meant to be on, and at this time I find myself, and my purpose to be to question this.

“As long as I am breathing, in my eyes, I am just beginning.”
― Criss Jami, Killosophy

I recently saw, on Netflix, “Steve Jobs, The Lost Interview”. I am a huge fan or Mr. Jobs, and yes I know he can be difficult. And in this interview he talks of John Scully. He said something that hit me like a hammer, “John Scully, is amazingly skilled at survival”. Kaapowwww!

For years now I have been fascinated by the idea of survival. I have never been good at it, as can be documented by being fired from a couple of very high paying gigs at a time of outstanding performance. I have never understood the idea of “survival” when we aren’t really threatened to be eaten by wild animals, or engage in combat. The idea of surviving inside an organization always seemed wasteful to me. And then I did not survive a couple of times. And it made an impact. And like most who are impacted and survive, not a lot of thought goes into it, you “do what you have to, you just survive”.

“The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival.” - Aristotle

Luckily or unluckily for me I became aware of this survival mechanism. It’s not really pretty. I then began to see it every where. I began to notice the incredible cost of survival in organizations I had been in, and the impact not just in market position but in the cost of human lives that were impacted in the wake of this. I think there is no better example of the impact of survival mechanisms and process in organization than the impact John Scully had on Apple.

Here is the thing, none of us will survive. We will all be gone one day. Same thing for organizations, they come and they go. And that is actually ok. You may lose your job, and that will be ok. You were looking for one when you got this one, right?

My question is what matters to us, as people, to me, and to you? Why are we here? And as leaders how does that play into the way we lead, who we are as leaders and the people we lead?

“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.”
― Shannon L. Alder

I am of the belief that each and every one of us has a gift, and a voice, and we each have a purpose. I believe we all, in our own unique way, want to make a difference. To contribute, to be known, to be heard, and to be gotten. I believe we all desire to be part of something larger than ourselves. I am of the belief that the work we do is a perfect avenue for the expression of that gift and the fulfillment of that purpose, no matter how mundane the task may be at the time. I am of the belief that leaderships role is to connect those individual purposes to the greater one, and when that occurs amazing results happen. And I am clear on how difficult it is.

My purpose is simple, to question. The expression of my purpose is to work with people and leaders to fully understand theirs, and to support them to continue on the pathway of fulfilling and expressing that purpose, their why, on them getting what really matters to them.

What matters to you? What gets in the way of that? What is your why? As always thank you for your time and generosity, and please share, I really would like to hear from all of you. Maybe we can create a conversation that makes something amazing happen? Or we can just have some fun with it. Thank you.

“The best things in life make you sweaty.”
― Edgar Allan Poe