By Nick Brzozowski
Think back to your last week.
Really! From seven days ago, trace back to today - this very moment. What did you do? Where were you? Who was with you?
Did you do it? Great! Now, let's go a little deeper. What was your level of passion? How well did you work with people (at home or at work...or both)? In the last seven days, were you clear and driven or a little too distracted with (fill in the blank)?
You were given a precious, valuable gift — a full 168 hours! Do you feel good about the way those hours were used? Whether you do or you don’t, guess what!? This week, you will be given another 168!
At this point, you might be wondering what I’m getting at. Well, here it is: If you have not slowed down and worked through discovering your purpose, you are forfeiting more than you realize. And it is costing you more than you know. By knowing your purpose, you will accomplish way more in your time and experience way more life!
Here are three things you miss when you miss your purpose:
Number 1: Fuel
Knowing your purpose will energize you because you are driven to accomplish something that matters.
Simon Sinek said, Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress; working hard for something we love is called passion. What is the point to working so hard for something you don’t care about? I have found myself feeling stressed with so much to do, and just by reminding myself that what I am doing matters to me, helps energize me for the day!
I believe that the principle of knowing your purpose fuels us is why the health and fitness programs I have started have begun by asking “why.” Having the self control to resist a nice, greasy cheese burger with crispy fries and a cold Coke takes a lot of energy - especially, if you are going to do it again and agin. But, being able to point to your motivation of living to see your grandkids graduate will infuse energy into you.
The apostle Paul is my hero and when it comes to overcoming impossible adversity and impacting the world he knows it better than anyone. While he was on trial, with his fate in the balance, he gave his purpose: But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24). His purpose was his source of fuel! What is yours?
Number 2: Favor
Knowing your purpose will help you work with others and earn trust with others because they know your intentions.
Sean Covey, in The Speed of Trust, details how trust grows when people are aware of your intentions. So, follow me here. If you are aware of your purpose, you can share your intentions with others, so they will trust you more, which will help you accomplish your purpose better!
I am so convinced of this. When I think about the people who have influenced me or sold a product to me, it was the people who believed in what they were doing and representing. When a salesman asks to meet with me, I can be suspicious. But, when they mention their product, I am no longer suspicious. I understand their purpose of meeting with me.
You may think that a person’s time is the most valuable possession they can give you. That is not true. It is their trust.
When someone trusts in you, they have a lot more to lose than just an hour!
This puts the stakes higher for knowing your purpose. If you don’t know your purpose, you don’t have confidence in yourself. How can you expect others to have confidence in you?
Number 3: Focus
Knowing your purpose will increase your productivity by eliminating waste doing things you weren’t meant to do.
Steve Jobs once said, Focus and simplicity…once you get there, you can move mountains. The co-founder and former CEO of Apple can be considered one of the most influential personalities of our lifetime. How did he have such impact? In his own words: focus!
Focus comes when we ask “why?” more, and “how?” less.
Your purpose may become your most useful decision-making tool to help you make the most out of your life.
Jesus had a focus because he knew his purpose. Luke, a physician who did heavy investigation of Jesus’ life, accounts a point in time when the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51).
With focus, Jesus was undeterred from his purpose to suffer and die. He knew his purpose was to bring about salvation to everyone who asks for it. And he succeeded in his goal because he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
What are you setting your face toward?
What do you feel deep in your bones that you were made for?
Test it. Explore it. Discover it. Rediscover it. Challenge it. Develop it. Live it. But, don’t miss it.
For more inspiration, watch the full service that this post is based off of right here.