Purpose pulls.

Recently I was interviewing candidates on behalf of a client and I ended each interview with this question:

"If you had to state your life purpose in 7 words or less, what would it be?”

Candidates were overwhelmed. They hemmed and hawed and stalled for time. I would then bail them out, admit that it was a difficult question and encourage them to just take their best stab at it. Don’t overthink it — just state it.

Thing is, they nailed it every time.

• “I exist to create structure in chaos.”
• “I exist to make things better.”
• “I exist to help people realize they are capable of doing anything.”

That last one broke the 7-word rule, but it’s powerful regardless.

They spoke from their heart, and there was almost no redundancy. Each person had a unique purpose. More importantly, their purpose is what motivated them to apply.

These purpose statements hold power and one thing I’ve learned in helping clients define their core purpose is that it pulls them. Purpose pulls you through difficulty, doubt, and rejection. It makes you more resilient, confident, and motivated. When you don’t know what to do, work toward your purpose.

So what is purpose?

Purpose is simply your intention to contribute, your desire to add value to the world. It’s the “why” for your existence and the motivating force that moves you forward.

Purpose (or lack thereof) is the reason you sometimes feel flat. When you are misaligned with your purpose or are ignoring it altogether, you feel disconnected. It’s also the force that keeps you moving when you feel fear.

How do you find your purpose?

Chances are you probably already know it. A few things that it is, and one thing that it’s not:

Purpose is...

• Always BIG, like so big you can’t solve it in a lifetime.
• Succinct, like 7 words or less.
• Often in your past, not your future. Purpose often comes from an experience that made you saw, “Wow. Everyone needs to experience that!” or, more likely, from an experience that makes you say, “Man, that was brutal. I don’t want anyone else to every go through that.” Purpose makes you want to dedicate your life to ensuring others do…or don’t…experience what you experienced.

It’s NOT...

• “I exist to help people.” It’s got to be more specific than that. Oil change garages exist to help people. Banks help people. Restaurants help people. Almost everyone and everything exists to help people.

What’s YOUR purpose?

(Hint: it’s unique, but not unique only to you. For example, I exist to maximize human potential. I’m sure others do as well, but no one does it in the way I do it. And I don’t do what they do. It will take many people making inputs into that purpose to bring it to fruition. That’s ok!)