Their answers suprised us all...
Who are you? How do you serve?
These are two of the most important questions we can know and understand about ourselves and our companies. When we do the work to discover these answers, we find peace, freedom, and inner power. This, in turn, enables us to create those qualities in the world around us, even during the most challenging times.
One of my favorite moments involving these questions occurred during a Purpose Discovery workshop I facilitated, where I had a room full of 50 engineers sit in a circle. When I asked, "Who are you?" they all wrote down their titles and roles. Then, I instructed them to crumple up that sheet up and throw it into the circle. I proceeded to ask, "Without all those roles and titles, now who are you?" Most of them sat there motionless, pen poised above the paper, for a good 30-60 seconds. Eventually, they began slowly writing a few words down. We went around the circle one by one, sharing what they had written. The answers surprised us all. Each person shared some version of "I am a speck in the cosmos," "I am pure consciousness," "I am human," "I am love," "I am an expression of God," or "I am." One of the most remarkable aspects was that, while preparing for this workshop, I had people say to me, "You know these are engineers, right?!" My response was, "Yes, and I also know they are humans." So when one of the men stood up and said, "I am Love" in a group of his peers, I knew we had reached something profound.
These answers revealed the common humanity and connection among everyone. At our core, we are more similar than different. Operating from this level creates sustained focus, supporting individuals and organizations to act with aligned purpose and intention, resulting in an elevated impact.
Once they established a connection to the essence of who they are, discovering how they serve became easier. It was no longer just about their job, projects, or tasks, but rather about the impact that mattered most to them as a result of their actions. Their service was about creating a better world and being willing to do what might have never been done before to make the world better possible. Regardless of their role within the company, they could embody this approach in all their interactions. Companies and individuals who have clarity on their core service can expand and explore limitless opportunities, and respond to changes and challenges in ways that may never have imagined.
So, today I invite you to ask yourself: Who are you? How do you serve?
My Harvard Talk is on YouTube!
It was almost a year ago when I had the chance to speak on the grounds at Harvard. And, this week I released the talk publicly on my YouTube channel. I open up the conversation about spirit, soul and love in leadership and business. I share stories from my own life and from leaders and companies who have experienced exponential growth while also creating a place that fosters great peace, joy, and fulfillment for themselves and others.
I would love it if you would give it a watch, like, comment, or share!
Journal Prompts
1. When in my life do I feel most at peace with myself?
2. What is the common “golden thread” in all that I have done in my life?
3. What is the impact I most desire to create and leave in my life?