What is your mission? As in, what gets you out of bed in the morning? Why do you exist?
Dr. Glenn Agung Hole
Honorary Professor | Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship, Economics & Management | Tax & Corporate Advisor | Columnist | Mentor | Former CEO & Executive Leader | Public Speaker
The other day I was asked again, I do not understand what drives you Glenn. You do so much weird, you are talking about prioritizing. On the one hand, you are a relatively determined as a senior executive who does not go out of his way to take a fight when you think something is ethically wrong. In the next moment, you talk about diversity, inclusion, running a charity both at home and abroad. You are a bit like the cartoon Phantom, he is tough with the hard guys, while gentle with the vulnerable. You are tough and hard on one side and soft on the other. How do you manage to be both? That said, I am not like the Phantom cartoon at all. I am full of shortcomings, but I try to make a difference for those I meet on my journey through life. I have no other answer than that I have found my mission in life. Then I am not so concerned with everything else.
The mission in life can quickly seem like big existential questions about life that man has been asking himself for the last couple of thousand years at least. But does this have to be so complicated? Can we simplify this? My answer is YES.
As my mentor through 12 years first told me, almost 25 years ago, "you need to figure out what your legacy will be, Glenn†This became more or less a turning point in my life almost 25 years ago.
Today, most companies and organizations have a visions statement for their purpose. By creating a similar vision statement as a person, it will allow us to ask ourselves, “What is my purpose for today?†Then, as the sun goes down, “Did my actions align with my purpose today?†A personal purpose statement defines who we are. It reflects our passions and values. It provides clarity as we set goals. Our sense of purpose steers how we want our story to go.
Most of us have done some school assignment where we have had to define the purpose statement for the school papers. The purpose of the statement of the school assignment provides us with direction and should reveals the paper’s focus. Similarly, when you create a personal purpose statement, you clearly reveal who you are, what you want to do, and why you want to do it.
A personal purpose statement is no more than one or two sentences. It is specific and clear. It is aligned with your core values. It simplifies your direction, your goals will either align with your definite major purpose or it does not. Goals without a purpose statement are like arrows without a target.
Examples of my own personal purpose statements:
My purpose is to make positive changes to the world and for the world. By mentoring others to identify their gifts and transform their goals into reality. Through this I hope to contribute that Diversity and Inclusion will be a Matter of Course rather than a future goal.
Through this it means I try, to serve others as a visionary leader and apply ethical principles in management to make a significant difference in the world by my actions. I have always said that if I had chosen a new academic career, I would have trained to become a psychologist. In my simple naivete, I am constantly amazed and often amazed at human behaviour and its actions. My purpose is to build a bridge of understanding and be a tower of integrity to others as a speaker, writer, and mentor.
“The leadership role is only for lending and it is a privilege, but also a responsibility to which we commit ourselves to helping to serve and elevate those around us.†– Glenn Hole
?Leadership is about making your employees independent and safe in their role – and enables them to make decision even if you are not present†Glenn Hole.
My job is not to promote dependency among those I lead, but to provide them with the freedom to bring their full selves to the work they do. Personally, I believe that the greatest legacy a leader can leave behind is having developed other to rise as leaders and grown as both human beings and leaders. I have spent more than fifteen years training and mentoring leadership to leaders so they can grow and developed themselves as leaders. People are what matter in this world not money or fame only people. Achievement comes to people who can do great things for themselves. Success comes when they lead followers to do great things for them. But a legacy is created only when leaders put their people into a position to do great things without them. The legacy of successful leaders lives on through the people they touch along the way. The only things you can change permanently are the hearts of the people you lead.
Consider the following suggestions as you compose your own personal purpose statement:
1. How do I want to make a difference in the world?
2. How do I want to be remembered?
3. What kind of legacy do I want to leave behind?
Compose Your First Draft:
1. Who am I?
2. What do I do?
3. Who do I do it for?
4. What do they want or need?
5. How are they changed?
Write in present tense: You purpose statement reflects who you are and what you bring to the world – beginning today. Focus your intention on what you envision for your life. Describe the personal mark you want to make on in this world. State it in present tense. When we embrace the things that make us unique, our true and remarkable capabilities are revealed.
I do not have anything else, so I hope that you too can manage to find your mission further in what you want to contribute to the world.
Historia magistra vitae - lat., Historien er v?r l?rer i livets kunst – Cicero (106-43 f.kr.). Nomade, aviation professional, photographer, journalist in the re-making. Critical thinker and life enthusiast!
4 å¹´I like those statements, Glenn ! Our purpose steer how we want our story to go....
Holder at Tandberg Value Creation
4 å¹´These are very good thoughts. And I particularly like that you anchor your mission in what you want to do for others, not limiting it to a statement of what you want to be or become yourself. I wish more companies and organizations would also think the same way. Wish you a good life:)
F?rsteamanuensis, forsker, forfatter og foredragsholder om ansettelser, f?rstegangsledelse, lederskifter, og l?ring.
4 å¹´Perfect theme for perfect leadership development! Understanding and stating Your own mission is an important way of establishing figure/ground-relationships: What are You really wanting to accomplish, where is Your energy going! My personal mission is to change the world for the better. Operationalized that means: For some 15 years: - Saving first time managers: Helping novice managers learn the ropes of their new role, transitioning from an individual contributor to an orchestrator of employees efforts. For some 10 years: - Saving jobsearchers; Making the best of a difficult situation, capitalizing on Your strengths by understanding Yourself AND the employers point of view. - Saving employers from predictive researchers telling You are doing everything wrong, that You should be testing Your candidates ever more, following prescriptive guidelines from a flawed point of view. - Saving both jobsearchers and employers by accepting You have a common purpose by matching the interests of both parties. Sidelining one of those interests, will sideline boths interests! Thanks for a nice reflection and reminder, Glenn Hole, Ph.D., MBA!