There’s a Signal We’re All Waiting For – ElPropósito3 min de lectura

I invite you to discover it

Photo by Austin Chan on Unsplash

This week I wrapped up a series of Life Purpose workshops at a company. For a month, week after week, I had the chance to partner with every employee as they discovered their own Life Purpose, and I invited them to reflect on how it aligns with the company’s Purpose. It was deeply rewarding for me and a great chance to keep practicing powerful, high-quality coaching tools.

In April 2019 I wrote the post "What We Long For vs. What We Do: How to Align Them and What Happens When We Do." Back then I left a few questions to reflect on: Do you know where your compass points? How wide is the gap between what you long for and what you’re doing now? What would happen if every member of a group, team, organization, country or institution shared the same purpose? Then, with hard work, what had been a dream came true.

While reading Forged in Crisis, I was struck by the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his expedition (c. 1914) to cross Antarctica from end to end. After nearly two years trapped and adrift, every one of them made it home alive. In my notes I wrote: "What did those sailors 100 years ago rely on to navigate the most hostile places on the planet?" The first answer was: "At the very least, a compass and a map."

Drawing the parallel, I ask myself how relentless, harsh, uncertain and complex the world we live and work in is today. The answer is obvious, and I think it has never been more necessary to at least know our own compass, where the thing that will let us become who we truly want to be is pointing. Life Purpose is our compass. We carry it within us, and once we discover it, many things start to make sense and what matters takes priority.

What does knowing my Life Purpose make possible? Among many other things, knowing my passions, my mission in this world, which decisions bring me wellbeing, peace and calm, what I clearly want for my life and what brings me closer to or further from my Life Purpose. It also lets me answer questions like: is what I’m doing aligned with my Life Purpose?

If there were one thing you could do today to discover your Life Purpose, what would it be?

Warm regards and have a great week,

Rodrigo Baccaro

"Cat: Where are you going? Alice: Which way should I go? Cat: That depends on where you are going. Alice: I don’t know. Cat: Then it doesn’t matter which way you go." Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

P.S. A few resources I recommend watching and reading:

• The full story of the Antarctic expedition led by Ernest Shackleton and his crew (in case the book feels slow). A gripping account of leadership at its finest. Everyone made it home after two years trapped in Antarctica.
• What I’ve been Reading: An HBR article on business ecosystems I recommend 200%: In the Ecosystem Economy, What’s Your Strategy?
• What I’ve been Viewing: A short video by Victor Küppers on why learning to listen matters. A great subject.

Author: Rodrigo Baccaro

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