The grind of leadership is exhausting. 

Leadership is hard. When we focus only on what we accomplish, or can accomplish, the daily grind wears us down.

As we move our focus from what we do to why we are here, the landscape of leadership takes on an inspired horizon.

To watch someone moving within their purpose is like a perfectly choreographed dance. They flow from moment to moment, without hesitation, doubt or the fear of uncertainty that plagues those stuck in “What”.

The reason we get stuck in what we do is simply because we’ve believed a lie. We’ve all been taught that purpose is what we do.

I remember as a young boy being asked “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The lie about purpose lives at the heart of this question. Although this is an important piece to consider, this question doesn’t give you the information you need to understand your purpose and where to focus your time and efforts.

This question points to things that interest you, things that you are passionate about and things that you just like doing. However, when you measure the question of “What do you want to be?” with “Why are you here?” you get very different results.

You begin to break down the lie as you set out to answer the question “Why are you here?” See, your purpose is not a ‘what’ or ‘who’. Your purpose is why you’re here. What you do and who you are must align with and fulfill why you’re here or you will be dismantled by doubt. You will be devalued, guaranteed.

To understand the difference answer me this:
What did you accomplish yesterday?

Whatever your answer to that question is, you will struggle through “Is that enough?” Even if what you accomplished was enough.

However, when you ask “How did what you accomplished yesterday help you fulfill your purpose?”, you learn and move forward. Here, you do not destroy yourself or feel the need to pat yourself on the back. You simply are empowered to own what you did (or didn’t do) to take steps to fulfill your purpose. Knowing why you’re here simplifies leadership for you and all those you serve. It removes the grind and allows you to dance, moving as you are meant to.

What you do and who you become are because of your purpose. This is key in changing the grind of leadership into the dance that leadership needs to be for you and all those you serve everyday.

Without understanding your purpose, you will miss out on what you are meant to do and who you are meant to be. A bold statement I know. But I say it because I don’t want you to miss out on what you are meant to do and who you are meant to be. Those you lead at home, work, in your community of friends and neighbors, in your country and even globally, need you to be the valued leader you are meant to be. They need your leadership. You need their leadership.

Don’t fall for the lie that your purpose is what you do. Your purpose is why you are here, not what you do. Clarify your purpose. Be the valued leader you need to be.