Are You a Compassionate Achiever?

Before you read any further, let me ask you this: are you favorably inclined to using the phrase "compassionate achiever" to describe you? Whether your answer is yes or no, I'd love to hear your initial reaction.

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"Achieving high level lasting success, whether it is climbing a professional ladder, living a life you are proud of, accomplishing a personal goal or effectively helping someone else do the same, is based upon finding meaning and purpose in your life."

So wrote Christopher Kukk in his 2017 book, The Compassionate Achiever.

He continued, "Studies in areas from political economics to psychology have shown that people who have a strong sense of meaning in their lives... whose lives are based on intrinsic values... attain high levels of success, and can sustain them for much longer than people whose lives are based on extrinsic values, which are direct personal benefit, such as money or status."

What's the best way to add more meaning to your life? Be more compassionate.

The phrase "compassionate achiever" has been in my mind thanks to a piece I published yesterday in my other LinkedIn newsletter, Distill the Real You. In Grounded Audacity, I wrote, "Grounded audacity means to have a bold and daring belief in yourself without being blinded by ego. It's about recognizing your own potential and acting on it, even when it seems irrational to others... but doing it with a sense of humility and awareness."

I hope you are still with me.

This week, I'm trying to connect two ideas that are seldom connected:

• You can be more driven than most people, and still be grounded.
• You can be driven to achieve great things, and still be compassionate.

I have downloaded but not yet read The Compassionate Achiever, so I'm not sure that my sense of the term is the same as Christopher Kukk's.

My path to get here went a bit like this:

• Occasional bouts of irrational confidence are responsible for my biggest achievements.
• Wait... that makes me sound like a delusional egotist.
• Irrational confidence is most useful in people who are not ego-driven, because it causes us to rise up and be bold when that's what is necessary to achieve something meaningful.
• I especially love it when kind and compassionate people exhibit this sort of boldness and, well, audacity.

No matter. I just love that we can now have a conversation around how you feel about those two words—compassionate achiever—being used together.

Do any of these possible interpretations especially resonate with you?

1. An entrepreneur who puts compassion first.
2. A person who succeeds in their field while being kind and empathetic.
3. Someone who values helping others as part of their professional journey.
4. An audacious individual who makes the world a more compassionate place.
5. A professional who combines strong achievement with a caring attitude.
6. An individual who sees compassion as a key to personal and career growth.
7. A leader or team member who prioritizes emotional intelligence.
8. Someone who believes in ethical success and social responsibility.
9. A person who integrates generosity and understanding into their work ethic.
10. A professional who fosters positive relationships in their workplace.
11. An achiever who also acts as a mentor or guide to others.
12. A role model for balancing professional excellence with human kindness.
13. Someone who challenges traditional notions of cut-throat competitiveness.
14. A believer in the power of empathy to enhance workplace dynamics.
15. A career-oriented individual who also champions community and social causes.
16. A person who thrives in their career without sacrificing their moral values.
17. An individual who leverages their success to make a positive impact on others.

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts. My intuition says there is value to be had in a conversation here...

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If you're curious to learn more...

The Kasanoff Center for Growth explains all the ways I serve others.

Focus Your Intention is my new online course on reaching your goals.

Distill the Real You is my other weekly LinkedIn newsletter. It helps you get closer to who and what you are meant to be.

Givers Deliver is my free website for givers. It has dozens of actionable career tips.