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Purposefulness.  It is about clear vision, goals and concentration on working towards them.  It is about Focusexcellence and focus and commitment.  It is grounded in certitude and resourcefulness.  Purposefulness is about being purposeful and all about purpose (duh).  That being said, Dictionary.com defines purposeful as:

purposeful

adjective
  • 1. having a purpose.
  • 2. determined; resolute.
  • 3. full of meaning; significant.
I would suggest that it is about being filled with purpose.  This goes beyond our daily purposes and moves us into the realm of what I call substantive purpose.  Dictionary.com defines purpose as…

purpose

noun

  • 1. the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.
  • 2. an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.
  • 3. determination; resoluteness.
  • 4. the subject in hand; the point at issue.
  • 5. practical result, effect, or advantage: to act to good purpose.
verb (used with object), purposed, purposing
  • 6. to set as an aim, intention, or goal for oneself.
  • 7. to intend; design.
  • 8. to resolve (to do something): He purposed to change his way of life radically.
verb (used without object), purposed, purposing
  • 9. to have a purpose.
Purposefulness implies a greater purpose is at the core of what we do.  For the last week, and headed into another 53 days, I am conducting and sharing a social experiment around the application and practice of character through focused daily experiments.  Each day, I conduct a virtues pick online from www.virtuesproject.com.  I take a few moments to ponder a singular question… “What virtue do I most need today, to practice?”  Then, with wholehearted focus and intent, I explore its practice in terms of living and working my day. The thought is to explore various aspects of character as they relate to living and working; and I am inviting others to join in the experiment.  This experiment is grounded in a greater purpose for me; the exploration of character as the basis for living and leading.
Indeed, we live in times where character, almost more than ever, is necessary to navigate the seemingly heightened trials and challenges and changes of this world.  I liken it to a powerful rudder, amidst the waves and storms and channels.  Character is the basis of consistent and constructive behaviour.  It stands the The EPIC Leadtests;  and character is practiced, and accessible by all.  We have many strengths from which to strategically choose and apply to all types of situations.  This social experiment serves to explore their application and practice.
That being said, our work is all about character and its role in building strong, united and resourceful organizations and communities.  This social experiment is about taking another angle and exploring their daily impact, once practiced with focus and intent.
 Purposefulness

SOME THOUGHTS on QUESTIONS

The Virtues Pick for Wednesday, July 6, 2016 is… Purposefulness.  I invite you to view and listen in to this video on Purposefulness. Then, I would ask that you consider these four questions.

  • Who do I best want to serve?  Now, get very clear on your audience; that demographic of people whom you would most like to serve, help and contribute to in what you do.
  • How do I best want to serve them?  Get very specific and clear on what difference you would like to make for them in what you do.  Name the changes in states of being you would like to advance.  In other words, and for example… because of what you do, how will their lives be better?
  • What are 3 strengths of character I possess that will assist in doing so?  Get on fire about what 3 virtues you have in such significant abundance that will guide the excellence of what you do and will be the basis for your reputation for excellence.
  • What are 5 bodies of knowledge, skills and abilities that I can bring to the table in doing so?  Identify 5 talents, capacities, skills, and abilities that you now possess as strengths of service.  What do you know or know how to do, with some sense of mastery… that will powerfully affect your ability to serve?
Try this fill–in-the-blank, for you or your team.
  • I am ____________________.
  • My audience I best serve is ___________.
  • I serve them best by helping ____________________.
  • In doing so, I walk with the virtues of _________, _________, and ___________; known for them in everything I do.  It is my best reputation.
  • And, I deliver on this service through expertise and skill in _______, _______, _______, ______, and _______.
Purposefulness is the most powerful of forces of focus.  It fosters commitment to excellence.  It is not simply passion or love for something.  It is passion, love, desire, capacity, talent and need in combination in such a way that things get done and served… and the world, or our corner of it, is a little or a lot better for it.

SOME THOUGHTS on ANSWERS

Frederick Buechner said “Vocation is the place where our deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.”  Therein lies a path to purposefulness.  To ready oneself for the answers to the questions, I offer some of the following as thoughts to ponder.

My intent this week is to dig in and carve out an ever more clear sense of purpose upon which to ground my work and life going forward…  to explore the master in the art of living as LP Jacks described.

“A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play; his labor and his leisure; his mind and his body; his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing, and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both.”

In closing, and for now, I ask you.  What is your purpose?  How can you advance your own purposefulness and mastery in the art of living?  Explore this.  It will be worth the trip.

Peace, passion and prosperity.Educator

Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy™

PS

To engage the 60-Day Challenge, check here.

PPS

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our FREE buffet of services here.