You Say You Wanna Revolution?

Welcome to Seeds 4 Growth issue #4!

In each issue, I will use the “Higher Power of 4’s” to provide 4 “seeds” within a particular topic designed to help individuals, teams, and organizations find purpose in fulfilling their true growth potential. And by doing so, grow leaders into living legacy builders who desire to make the world better.

“The Revolution introduced me to art, and in turn, art introduced me to the Revolution!”

— Albert Einstein

As a journalism major and longtime marketing executive, I love a good play on words—alliteration, double-entendres, acronyms, metaphors, colloquialisms, idioms, puns, and the like. I believe they help keep language alive by creating a deeper, more colorful, and emotionally evocative meaning beyond the mere black-and-white definition of a specific word in isolation. Words are indeed a form of artistic expression.

Growing up in Kansas and living for many years in Texas, you tend to hear some…well, let’s just say…interesting phrasing you probably don’t hear most other places.

For example, when people ask me, “How are you?” I tend to respond a bit more creatively. Sometimes, on a particularly hectic day, I reply, “I’m busier than a blind dog in a meat house.” That image in their mind gets my point across in a fun, unique way.

On other occasions, I might say, “You know, I couldn’t be better unless I were twins!” Now, as a father of twin girls, there were certainly times when they were growing up when that response may not have come across so positively. (Sorry, girls.)

And still other times, I might reply, “Well, not as good as you, but every day I get up and try my best!” That always disarms folks and leaves them feeling good with a little chuckle or smile on their face. Is that so terrible?

I used to say, “Better than I deserve,” until I learned the well-known and beloved personal finance coach Dave Ramsey uses that as his catch phrase when replying to people who call-in to his radio show. Looks like I need to be a bit more creative and come up with some fresh new replies.

In fact, I believe words matter in many ways that are relevant for stimulating growth in our daily lives. Taking us from where we are to where we would like to go.

• “Thank you” can lead to… “You’re welcome.” Polite, courteous words can help build trusting, respectful relationships.
• “I love you!” can lead to… “I DO!” Expressions of love (in both word and deed) can lead to a union of two people.
• “I’m sorry” can lead to… “I forgive you.” The humility of an apology (both requested and granted) can help rebuild trust, leading to long-term healing that can create an even stronger bond.
• “Yes, Dear” can lead to… “Let’s do it!” Subservience in putting our partner’s needs above our own can (sometimes) get us where we want to go.

All kidding aside, there is one word that I find extremely powerful and multidimensional in both its definition and connotation—its deeper philosophical meaning—in cultivating growth. In fact, this word serves as the foundation from which each of the purposeful 4 LEAF GROWTH processes are brought to life.

I’m talking about the word revolution.

Of course, we find slightly different variations in how revolution is defined according to various dictionaries. However, the three I found most relevant to the validation and application of my 4 LEAF GROWTH processes are:

Rev-uh-loo-shuhn (n)

1.An uprising of the people:

History shows us that when people feel oppressed and lack growth opportunities, they revolt against authority. In fact, “an uprising of the people” spawned revolutions that led to the formation of new forms of government, policies, ideologies, or movements (e.g., the American Revolution, French Revolution, Arab Spring, #metoo , Black Lives Matter, etc.).

Today, given the significant impact of COVID-19 on both our personal lives and related workplace dynamics, many people are using this opportunity to pause and reflect upon what (and who) matters most in their lives. Leaving unsatisfying jobs and/or toxic work environments that no longer suit them—creating a flexible Gig Economy that has resulted in labor shortages across many industries causing management to revolutionize their approach to optimize human resource practices in a new era of work.

2. A dramatic change in the status quo:

This is a reference to the spirit of innovation in revolutionizing the world and how we live, work, and play (e.g., electricity, telephone, trains, cars, planes, computers, smart phones, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, etc.). Throughout history, catalytic events such as war, famine, disease, discovery, technology, innovation, etc. have created step-function-changes in our lives—creating a "new normal" for our society.

In today’s dynamic and increasingly competitive business environment, we cannot grow by maintaining the status quo or settling for creeping incrementalism. On the contrary, we must employ a step-function-change mentality to overcome strong headwinds and maximize our growth opportunities.

3. A circular orbit around an object:

Our unique purpose is the epicenter of our universe—everything we do must revolve around it for us to fulfill our growth potential.

But, in the process of doing so, we have an opportunity—indeed a responsibility—to help others along their journey. This perpetuates a virtuous cycle of reciprocity that makes the world go ’round. It’s a transition from me-go to we-growth.

While the first two definitions of revolution are pertinent to my thesis regarding the importance of change, the third, “A circular orbit around an object,” struck me as foundational in helping us truly unlock the 4 interwoven, purposeful growth processes.

In fact, by looking at 4 historic major growth examples, a familiar and consistent theme emerges—a circular orbit around an object.

-?????????The earth revolving around the sun = life/existence

-?????????The wheel revolving around an axle = movement/productivity

-?????????The compass hand revolving around points = direction/guidance

-?????????The clock’s hands revolving around hours in a day = time/rhythm

The universe has a natural and undeniable rhythm revolving in/around most living things—people, animals, and yes, even plants.

According to my research, circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a roughly twenty-four-hour cycle, responding primarily to light and darkness in an organism’s environment. The study of circadian rhythms is called chronobiology. (Chrono in Greek means “related to time.”)

A circadian clock, or circadian oscillator, is a biochemical oscillator that oscillates with a stable phase relationship to solar time. The in vivo period, averaged over an earth year, for such a clock is necessarily almost exactly twenty-four hours (the earth’s current solar day).

As you can see, my decision to inject the word revolution after purposeful growth is so much more than mere hyperbole or word craft. In fact, it represents the actual dynamics of how each of the interrelated processes of my 4 LEAF GROWTH model are always moving forward and “revolving” around one’s unique purpose throughout every season of life, resulting in the potentially significant difference it could make in you as an individual, as part of a team, or broader organization, and yes, even within your world.

And as I learned from my friend Rebecca Blust, when you examine the word r-evol-ution a bit closer, you can see the word love is right in there written backward—hidden in plain sight.

Hmm… “Pay it backward!” Coincidence? I think not.

All three definitions of the word revolution are important in supporting my thesis regarding the vitally important process of “change”—something everyone wants, but not everyone wants to do for a variety of reasons.

In tandem with my new book, The Purposeful Growth Revolution: 4 Ways to Grow from Leader to Legacy Builder, I have developed a free Purposeful Growth Self-Assessment to serve as a companion to my thesis. I believe there must be alignment between your individual purpose and the purpose of the team or organization you work for. And that together, your life’s work can make a positive, lasting impact on the world. Why?

NEWS FLASH!?Work should mean more than just a paycheck!

Let’s find out where you stand currently on this topic by taking the Purposeful Growth Self-Assessment. Based upon your answers, you can download a free report that is personalized just for you.

Please note: You’ll find a link in the Comments section to my website at https://www.MarkAMears.com with the free Purposeful Growth Self-Assessment.

We all understand the need for growth to advance our careers and the organizations we serve, but research studies show that Purposeful Growth is the most powerful way to grow and live a fulfilled life.

From spiritual teaching to scholarly research and changing demographic trends along with the increasing reliance on digital devices for social interaction, there is solid evidence that connecting individuals to their higher purposes helps increase job satisfaction, productivity, longevity/loyalty, and outer directedness that benefits others.

Before we dive headlong into the search for our own individual purpose, there are 4 important questions you must ask yourself to see if you are ready to join The Purposeful Growth Revolution:

Seeds 4 Growth

1. Are you ready to “cultivate your field” for Purposeful Growth?

2. Are you ready to “plant your seeds” for Purposeful Self?

3. Are you ready to “grow 4-ward” for Purposeful Work?

4. Are you ready to “scatter your seeds” for Purposeful Life?

The new world of work is changing... on purpose.

If so, it's time to get the FUDD out! The Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt and Delay that is holding you back—keeping you from growing into your purpose and living the truly fulfilled life you deserve and indeed were meant for.

“Between stimulus and response is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. And, in our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

— Dr. Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning

The Purposeful Growth Revolution is ON!

Are you IN?