Kevin W. McCarthy

The Professor of On-Purpose

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The Persisting Presences

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Saturday, June 10, 2023, Judith and I attended the Consecration and Installation of the Right Reverend Justin Holcomb as the Episcopal Bishop of Central Florida. It was a glorious occasion filled with pomp and circumstance, worship music, a bench of bishops, a pontification of priests and deacons, and a congregation of witnesses and worshippers for communion.  

Pictured above is the profound moment when Bishop-Elect Holcomb is in prostration (green circle) before the Presiding Bishops and bench of Bishops. Soon they will examine and lay hands of Apostolic succession upon him. This posture of submission represents a reverent obedience and total surrender to Christ. It is a breathtaking experience to witness.

This moment (to me) symbolizing the two persisting presences tugging and tearing on all our hearts: God and the World. Ironically, all those surrounding the Bishop-Elect individually and organizationally are the most likely candidates to distract him from this prime directive.

The prostration message is simple: God first. This isn’t just for Bishop Holcomb. This visual depiction of The Greatest Commandment is for all of us. First God, then God and Self, and finally Others is the key to a whole life within the chaotic and confusing swirl of competing interests. 

We are called to be conduits of service. Yet, as so many constituents draw down on us, the risk of putting service ahead of God is the path to being burned out and bummed out. How, then, do we remain committed and connected to the source, while not being drained by the calling of one’s work?

This wondrous notion and potential for an aligned, integrated, and fluid series of vigorous relationships is animated by a third persisting presence. Your God-gifted 2-word purpose energizes and makes the desirable outpouring of one’s Body, Mind, and Spirit personal, actionable, and alive, but most of all protected. This believed bond discerns what’s off- or on-purpose and reveals what’s wise to do, delete, or delegate.

Leaders, you don’t have to be a Bishop to commit to God first.

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

PS: Here’s my bride and me with Bishop Holcomb

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Daring You To Be A Commonwealth Capitalist

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Let’s get some terms on the table to guide our conversation.

Capitalism is the economic system by which private enterprise is the chief means of production and distribution of goods and services in a nation.

Socialism is an economic and political system whereby the chief means of production is controlled by the government or publicly owned.

A Commonwealth is a nation, state, or political group that is founded on law or agreement to serve the common good or to serve to the advantage of one’s self and others.

Communism is an economic and political system with a single central authority with the collective ownership of property, labor, and means of production and distribution whereby its people are required to serve the greater good or the state’s agenda.

Individualism is a belief in the primary and moral worth of the individual to make decisions, to be self-reliant, and to be free to pursue self-interest.

Collectivism is a belief placing the community’s worth, morality, and interest first.

Materialism is a belief that the personal accumulation of money and physical comfort are the chief aim of the individual, at the exclusion of spiritual or intellectual endeavors.

Idealism is a belief that the basis of all life is rooted in mind, spirit, or soul apart from the material.

Clarify your beliefs to gain deep personal insight on the social, economic, moral, and political foundations defining how you operate in the world as an individual, a partner, a parent, a friend, and a business owner or team member.

Why am I daring you as a business person to be a Commonwealth Capitalist, basically the left side of the above list? You are capable of being an even better leader of your life than you already are. Yet, if you don’t take a stand, you’ll be squashed by your ignorance. On the other hand, better understanding who you are and where you stand provides you a meaningful opportunity to tap into a even deeper anchoring of who you are being and becoming. You may love your specific choices or doubt them, or reject them with greater insight and appreciation thanks to heightened awareness about the underpinnings of your thoughts.

Capitalism is proven to be the greatest system in the world for raising the standard of living for any people group. From the Pilgrims to the Founding Fathers of the USA to today, the ideals of free enterprise, fair competition, personal responsibility, and rule of law have proven to create a prosperous nation. However, raw capitalism left unchecked leads to materialism and greed. Raw capitalism, therefore, must be checked by justice and further moderated by idealism and mercy.

A Commonwealth Capitalist is a business person who eagerly accepts personal responsibility while also embracing and acting upon the moral urging of the soul to do right by others. Their “pursuit of happiness” is not a headlong charge of individual aggrandizement and enrichment. Theirs is a shared and uplifting journey that’s the epitome of the adage “A rising tide lifts all boats.”

Be On-Purpose!

 Kevin

Daring Business Owners to Profit the World

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Why does your business exist? Pause and answer. 

Business owner holding cash with sunglasses, promoting profit and success in entrepreneurship.

Over the decades, I’ve posed this question to business leaders and audiences. Here’s the four most popular and consolidated responses of my unvalidated survey:

  • 50% to make money or to profit the shareholders
  • 20% to sell goods or services to customers
  • 20% to provide jobs
  • 10% to raise the standard of living in society

So what did you answer?

The first three accurately describe what businesses do (missions), but not the reason why businesses exist (purpose). Confusing missions as purpose creates an “it’s all about me first” approach to leading a business. Such a self-centered orientation distorts the business and ironically diminishes performance. 

Unfortunately, this is the prevailing principle at work within the CEO-system of business administration. Most business owners are unwittingly placing mission ahead of purpose from ignorance, not malice. Regardless, the adverse effects remain the same.

Purpose provides a point of origin to meaningfully resolve, satisfactorily align, and fluidly blend otherwise competing interests in service to God, self, and others. Purpose (being) informs vision (seeing) and is expressed through its missions (doing) while guided by its values (choosing).

Businesses hold the special opportunity to profit (add value) to the world’s people. Business is first a social construct whose greatest potential to earn, sell, and hire ultimately relies upon improving the lives or standard of living of people — shareholders, team members, customers, vendors, and more. This common good mindset is akin to answering the question, “How does our business make a difference or the world a better place?”

If your business doesn’t have a 2-word purpose, you’ll find in Chief Leadership Officer the suggestion to use “We exist to serve by Increasing Wealth.” One caveat for using wealth (state of weal or well-being) is to embrace the whole person perspective (body, mind, spirit, and financial) plus working and living conditions — one’s standard of living. 

My bet is you don’t have a purpose statement. Rather you have a vision or missions and you’ve haven’t a clue what its costing your company in lost financial profit.

Business has a high and noble role to play in society. We are to profit the world–to make the world a better place. I dare you to re-consider how your business purpose is stated, communicated, and integrated throughout your company.

Let your business reformation begin!

Be On-Purpose!
Kevin

PS: Need some help sorting out purpose, vision, missions, and values. Schedule a time to Pick Kevin’s Brain.

Are You a “Daring” Entrepreneur?

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 In the title, “Daring” is in quotes because we entrepreneurs may be risk-takers but we’re not gamblers. The beauty and artistry of launching a business is that a person can start with nothing more than an idea and bring it to life to enrich peoples’ lives. Daring, however, is best left for daredevils not founders.

Entrepreneurs typically operate in one of the following seven stages. Knowing this prepares you for your journey.

  1. Contemplating: What will it take to quit my job and start a business in my search of independence, opportunity, and wealth?
  2. Enraptured: In the “hands on” start-up of organizing the business — the honeymoon stage.
  3. Captured: All time, money, attention, and energy are imprisoned by this relentlessly needy foundling. 
  4. Emerging: The founder of this thriving business says, “Why didn’t I start this years before?”
  5. Expanding: Scaling a team, culture, and brand. 
  6. Exiting: Who will replace me as the leader?
  7. Exited: Moving on to what’s next.

Navigating from stage 1 through to stage 7 involves integrating an increasingly complex variety of disciplines. Each stage opens to frontier territory with a wondrous confounding set of challenges and learning experiences. Some of these roadblocks will bog down the emerging business leader for days to decades. The School of Hard Knocks carries a high cost of tuition. There is a better way!

May I serve you? I am a lifelong student of business and leadership. I began as a nine-year-old entrepreneur selling candy on the school bus. Business degrees plus a series of failures and successes decades later, authoring bestselling books, and advising top decision makers in all seven stages has honed my talent to cut to the root cause. It’s a jagged path with ups and downs but I can help you flow more fluidly from stage to stage.

Don’t be daring. Work smart. Set your company and team up for success. Recognize financial profit is a net result and not your reason for being in business. Build from your personal 2-word purpose toward the vision in your mind’s eye. Organize, delegate, and serve, and you will likely realize what you set out to achieve and then some.

Be On-Purpose!
Kevin

PS: Got a Puzzling Problem?

Book me for a prepaid 45-minute business growth session. Satisfaction is guaranteed or your money is returned. Learn more at  www.PickKevinsBrain.com

Loving Your Call

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In 1977, Domenic Fusco knew he was called to make movies. At the time it made no sense as answering this would be a major career shift from his electrical engineering degree and sales position. Yet, he trusted and persisted in the belief of his calling. 

Through the decades Domenic and Charlie, his wife, never lost sight of this call. He added technical skills in videography, editing, sound, script writing and pitching, graphic design, and more plus a masters degree and PhD. Her talent for writing and organizing proved to be a prolific duo of content creators of remarkable resources such as The Articles of Transformation and Bible Quick Notes.

Kevin W. McCarthy in a professional portrait for Loving Your Call.

Sunday, February 5, MGM+ streaming services released Murf the Surf, a four-part miniseries documentary about the all-too-real life of Jack Murphy, champion surfer, notorious jewel thief, convicted murderer, and redeemed evangelist. In partnership with Ron Howard’s Imagine Pictures, Domenic is a producer and major content contributor to the story. It only took 46 years!

Watch the documentary series to see how Jack’s life was turned around. Tip: If you have Amazon Prime you can watch the first episode for free. Domenic’s voice is over some of the images and video.

Because of his redemption and positive influence among prisoners, Murf the Surf was miraculously paroled from a release date of A.D. 2244 (Florida prison). Before the parole board, even the state’s head warden provided supporting testimony for Jack’s release.

Shortly afterward, Jack and Domenic, the then-aspiring filmmaker, met. Domenic began accompanying Jack into his Prison Invasion events to videotape this redemptive story of hope for the incarcerated. A 34-year friendship and partnership developed between the two. During this time, Domenic worked with Jack to create a script for a feature length film to be produced shortly.

Are you loving your call enough to pay the price to see it through?Domenic and I have been friends since 2014. We click because we are creatives who appreciate each other’s off-beat senses of humor. Walking with him before, during, and after what culminated in this documentary has been a testament to trusting perseverance. Not all get to enter the Promised Land.

Many consider and still believe Murf the Surf was an unredeemed criminal and con to the end. Others believe he was broken, healed, and poured out serving the incarcerated. Regardless, Domenic will tell you he remained a larger-than-life character throughout.

Was Jack’s conversion for real? Judge for yourself.


Preparing Your 2023 Budget

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October is the traditional time when businesses begin the budgeting process for the coming year. Almost by definition, budgeting is erroneously limited to what fits on an Excel spreadsheet. Managers are asked to pull together their financial needs for people and projects. In turn, they look at last year’s budget and decide what to defend, what to concede, and what to request in the coming budget.

What is intended to be a strategic process gets dumbed down to a negotiation of numbers to achieve a certain return on investment or profit. Overlooked are the organizational Purpose, Vision, Missions, and Values (PVMV) of the Organization. Before you commit your entire 2023, is it time for a PVMV check-up?

Purpose, once articulated in 2 words, remains the same. Values are slow changing, whereas company Vision and Missions are fluid. Here’s where the Chief Leadership Officer, leaders, and team collaborate to clarify the company direction (Vision) and core activities (Missions) within the Purpose and Values. Clarification leads to communication to create alignment and constancy of PVMV in the strategic business-planning process. The budget support this process rather than driving it.

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“Doing More of What You Do Best More Profitably” is the subtitle to The On-Purpose Business Person. Place this refrain top of mind for your 2023 planning horizon. “Doing Best” is directly connected to your company Purpose and its expression in Vision and Missions as governed by Values. “Doing More of What” relates to your Missions — this is your day-to-day activity and your marketing. “More Profitably” translates to operational efficiencies, financial profit, and the value proposition or difference-making your company contributes to the common good of shareholders, team members, vendors, and society.

Leaders look forward. Managers look backward. Avoid the corrupting “Numbers Game” of the typical budget process. In placing your priority on your Purpose, not only do you improve the probability of a solid ROI, but you’ll also create a more meaningful and wholesome workplace that attracts the needed talent to grow and sustain the business and team members.

Why Be Purpose-Driven When You Can Be Purpose-Called?

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Man working on laptop with purpose-driven quote on dark background.

Purpose doesn’t drive you. It calls you. Think before you jump on the “purpose-driven” buzzword bandwagon.

Having pioneered purpose since the late 1980s, I cringe for those using “purpose-driven” when describing their work or business.

Purpose-driven is Industrial Age workaholism euphemistically dressed in pseudo-positive, contemporary jargon. However well-intended the users of “purpose-driven” may be, they’re unknowingly headed for an identity crisis and unhappy outcome.

“Purpose” and “Driven” are incompatible concepts. It’s like combining “Love-Forced.” How’s that marriage likely going to end?

Purpose naturally energizes. It ignites vision, inspires missions, and hones values as the soul answers the call in service to the Common Good. That, by the way, is known as being on-purpose.

Begin answering your call today at ONPURPOSE.me.

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The Most Powerful Method for Harnessing the Power of Purpose

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Purpose, Vision, Missions, and Values (PVMV): These are the keys to clarity of strategy to inform planning and business model building. As important as strategy is to the wealth creation process, the person leading and implementing strategy matters more.

purpose as spiritual energy

Having pioneered the purpose conversation since the late 1980s, I’m delighted to finally see the big consulting firms and business schools embracing the power of purpose for companies and “employees.” Nevertheless, The On-Purpose Approach remains the clearest, most meaningful, and holistic approach to blending life and work.

Distinctive to an On-Purpose® corporate purpose statement is the setup and use of a 2-word purpose. “We exist to serve by (insert 2-word purpose)” is layered in nuance and sophistication while remaining steadfastly memorable and practical. Purpose is a service-first ideal that’s naturally inclusive of the business model (wealth creation). To instill and install purpose throughout the organization, however, requires intention, creativity, and dedication.

The essential connection between purpose and people (team members, vendors, customers, the public) is now alluded to more often in the writings of the likes of Gallup, PwC, and McKinsey in concept, but not in practice. At On-Purpose Partners, my company, we’ve been putting purpose into practice for decades.

For example, this article in Strategy+Business makes a strong case for 5 ways to harness the power of purpose. I’m adding comments and point 6 — what’s most often overlooked. Respectfully, here are Sally Blount‘s and Paul Leinwand‘s five key points:

  1. Make creating your purpose a strategic exercise, not a communications exercise. Yes, and the PVMV along with your Strategic Story need to inform the communications and business plan per the Chief Leadership Officer Integrity Map (download a copy here: www.CLOnow.com).
  2. Focus on how you earn money, rather than how you spend it. Yes, this is one of the differences between a leader and a manager. Managers live within budgets, leaders think on the basis of ROI or better yet ROP (Return on Purpose).
  3. Identify your special power, and build your purpose around it. No. Purpose is your company’s special power — why the company exists and how it serves. Whereas a “special power” or “unique capability” is what you do or a mission. This invites the worst of Levitt’s Marketing Myopia because the purpose is defined by a mission or activity that one day may be obsolete. Then what?
  4. In multi-business-unit organizations, make sure purpose goes beyond a single unit. Yes and no. Purpose is the golden thread that unifies and dignifies people and their work. One purpose for all, not “purposes.”
  5. Boards need to do more to hold leaders accountable on the topic of purpose. Yes, especially the part about ESG — perhaps the greatest misrepresentation of purpose and values going. Same goes with DEI. When purpose is present, DEI is irrelevant because identity, not identifiers, unifies rather than divides.

As promised, here’s the vital ingredient the top-down strategists miss: a collaborative effect based on The On-Purpose Principle (see The On-Purpose Business Person). This principle states, “When the Purpose of the Person is aligned with the Purpose of the Organization, that’s the source of all energy and engagement.” This is my organizational development equivalent of Einstein’s E=MC2. It’s an elegant and meaningful clarification of a complex series of relationships.

How to create the alignment? That leads us to the most missing aspect in the purpose conversation happening today — Point 6.

6. Encourage every team member to state their personal purpose, vision, missions, and values. Here’s the spiritual DNA of personal leadership development with an internal (not North Star) guiding gyroscope. Team members will grasp the value and use of the parallel company strategic concepts of PVMV. Alignment begins. Work becomes meaningful. The disengaged will leave. Leaders are born. Management issues decline as personal responsibility grows. Others are attracted to work at the company. Stewardship of resources emerges. Service levels increase. Customers buy into what the company/brand represents.

Thanks to the ONPURPOSE.me online 2-word purpose discovery tool, every team member is less than five minutes from knowing their purpose in life. Add The Power of Being On-Purpose workshop and team members are less than a day from clarifying their visions, missions, and values and having a life plan in place. Even more importantly, they’ve gained a lifetime process of personal growth and improvement.

In short, many of the most pressing challenges facing corporations today can be resolved. But the dirty little secret is that the person occupying the corner office is mired in the profit-taking CEO-system of management. This incompletely right way of doing business treats people as inanimate “human resources” the CEOs are driving with purpose versus calling people to a workplace where meaningful expression of their purpose is possible.

The future leaders will be Chief Leadership Officers who clarify purpose (PVMV) and fully appreciate that all profit-making is earned through the well-being of people served on-purpose. This is a 180º turn from the CEO view of people as assets instead of flesh and bones with souls.

As the power of purpose remains a thought-leader discussion, why not actually get to it by finding your personal 2-word purpose at www.ONPURPOSE.me? Then, let’s talk about what it means to be on-purpose.

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