“My boss keeps asking me what my Purpose is,” said Jane who’s been an Executive Assistant for five years. “She wants to know what I’d do if I could do any job and wasn’t her EA. I’m grateful she cares, but it’s making me really anxious because I have no idea. What should I do?” “How would you score yourself between 1-10 with one being totally ‘off Purpose’ and ten being totally ‘on Purpose’ in … [Read more...]
Purpose: Like a fresh water spring
This year I’ve been working closely with two companies on their new Purpose initiatives. Company one, a small Australian bank with 150 employees, is undertaking the creation of a new Purpose statement as the foundation for moving the company forward. Company two, a global retailer with over 13,000 employees, is undertaking a plan to make their new global Purpose meaningful and actionable in their … [Read more...]
The CEO who Cried.
“What really matters to you, and why?” I ask looking straight into the clear grey eyes of John, the 61-year-old CEO of a major finance company. I wonder if he’s ever been asked this before or if he’s ever privately pondered it. Shifting uncomfortably in his chair and looking everywhere but straight back at me, I can tell he’s challenged by the question. “My wife and kids matter to me. Providing … [Read more...]
The story of the Golden Buddha.
In 1957 an entire Monastery in Thailand was being relocated by a group of monks. One day they were moving a giant clay Buddha when one of the monks noticed a large crack in the clay. On closer investigation he saw there was a golden light emanating from the crack. The monk used a hammer and a chisel to chip away at the clay exterior until he revealed that the statue was in fact made of solid … [Read more...]
It’s not just Millennials. We all want it.
Yesterday I came across this brilliant article Why Millennials Keep Dumping You. (Thank you Elizabeth McLeod daughter of @LisaEarleMcLeod for the insights. I loved it!) With well over 70,000 likes, 6000 comments and 22,000 shares and counting, it’s clearly struck a chord with many. It seems that Millennials commonly quit within six months because their employers; tolerate poor performance … [Read more...]