Working For A Bigger Purpose

What if work wasn’t just work? What if work was a vehicle to live and share a bigger purpose?

I believe there is a flawed perception in our society that in order to live a life of purpose we have to leave our jobs and go solve world hunger, feed the homeless, move to Africa or start a charity.

These are all noble causes and many are called to do these very things. But for many of us, our bigger purpose can be found in the here and now, in the jobs we have, right under our noses.

And when we find and live this purpose, it will provide the ultimate fuel for a meaningful life.

Making a difference

You may not build libraries around the world but you can find the bigger purpose in reading to your children.

You may not feed the homeless every day but you can nourish your employees and customers with a smile, kind word and care.

And while you may not start your own non-profit organisation you can begin a charity initiative at work. After all, “charity” means “love in action”.

You can make a difference every day and touch the lives of everyone you meet.

While these people may not be starving because of a lack of food, you can provide them with a different kind of nourishment that will feed their souls and feed your own in the process.

Men (and women) on a mission

I heard of a janitor who worked at NASA. Even though he was sweeping floors, he felt his bigger purpose was contributing to put a man on the moon.

I met a bus driver who knows his purpose is to help kids stay off drugs.

I met an administrative assistant who has become the chief energy officer of her company.

I received an email from a woman in the mortgage business who sees her job as a way to help couples save their marriages by keeping their homes.

I know a Popeye’s Chicken employee named Edith in the Atlanta Airport who makes thousands of air travelers smile each day. The list goes on…

Ordinary people with an extraordinary purpose.

In any job, our purpose waits for us to find it and live it.

My thoughts

I can’t tell you what your purpose should be but I can tell you that everyone of us can find a bigger purpose in the job we have.

I can tell you that every job, no matter how glorious or boring it may seem, will get mundane if we let it.

Purpose keeps it fresh and when we are filled with purpose, we tap into an endless supply of energy.

Don’t wait until you go to Africa to start living with a mission. Don’t wait until the weekend to feed people who are hungry.

Bring your mission to work, start working for a bigger purpose and nourish others in the process.

Jon Gordon is the author of numerous books including The Energy Bus, The Carpenter and The Seed, and blogs regularly at www.JonGordon.com. Send us your feedback at editor@leaderonomics.com or drop us a line in the comment box provided. For more Thought of the Week articles, click here.

 
Reposted with permission on Leaderonomics.com and published in English daily The Star, Malaysia, 13 June 2015