The Professor of On-Purpose
LISTEN to Kevin W. McCarthy's interview about about being on-purpose at work.
Join Kevin as he is interviewed by Corine McElroy, CEO and Founder of Edge of Change. Corinne and Kevin jump into how to apply the On-Purpose Approach at work, in your career, and in your business.
Recorded live, Oct. 5, 2011. Approximately 60 minutes.
Fine writing can be like fine wine, it has to sit to reach maturity. Facing writer's block? Sit and let it mature. #onpurpose
A "Balanced" Life
A balanced life is what I sought,
Only to have a life that was not.
My battle for balance was constantly fought,
Yet, time and again I found myself caught.
I planned, I managed, I strove to obtain.
With burnout, frustration, and a worn out brain.
Time I did “manage” with feelings distraught,
Where the harder I tried, the less I got.
A balanced life captured my thought.
Advice and coaching I often sought.
So coaches and counselors I did retain
To inspire, encourage, and help me retrain.
I listened and learned and did as I ought,
Yet my sense of my self continued to rot.
Day after day I did not obtain,
A life in balance – I could not sustain.
Daily my Father saw my deep pain,
Finally, he asked of my earnest campaign.
I told of the experts and advice I had bought.
He listened long. Then, I asked what he thought.
“A balanced life you will not obtain.
It’s an illusion sure to drive you insane.”
About the balanced life I so anxiously sought.
In essence he said, “All is for naught.”
Could my experts’ advice be words all in vain!
Dad’s contrary words were too simple and plain.
Defensive and righteous, I took a pot shot,
“If not balance, what else have you got?”
He answered, “A balanced life is what you’ve sought.
Instead, try this one simple thought:
Live your life integrated. It will go as it ought.”
A different perspective my Father had brought.
Intrigued and delighted his words fell as rain,
To my parched soul truly going insane.
How do I integrate? How do I maintain?
Were questions resounding deep in my brain.
“In the beginning, when you were begotten
A purpose was given, you’ve long since forgotten.
Search your heart and all its terrain.
Your purpose lies dormant, yet steadfast and fain.
“Ignoring your purpose causes work with strain.
Why worry about balance if it isn’t germane!
Align to your purpose, live as you ought.
Listen, my love, to the words that I’ve taught.”
His words were startling, and hard to contain
For Balance, my idol, he had just slain.
No more was my stomach tied tight in a knot.
For a balanced life I no longer sought.
In the heart of my heart I had learned a lot
Of ordering life on Dad’s integrating thought.
Gone were failings and feelings distraught
Where the harder I tried, the less I got.
I’m sparked by my purpose so simple and plain.
Integration, not balance, now keeps me so sane.
The gift of hope in my heart does remain.
For being on-purpose I can surely sustain.
© 2011, Kevin W. McCarthy
Nic Askew of Soul Biographies produces gently disturbing films on-purpose. Having been in a maximum security prison for three days (not nights) as part of a Kairos Prison Ministry, I related to Juan's initial reaction to the prisoners. Recovering the Diamonds provokes a natural prejudice for self-defense within an extreme and dangerous environment of criminals. Yet Juan offers hope and insight juxtaposed with Nic's compelling questions.
Invest 8 minutes to view Nic's film. What if you are committing an imprisoning crime upon persons who don't fit your concept of a person worth knowing?
RECOVERING THE DIAMONDS from Nic Askew on Vimeo.
In 1998 when I wrote The On-Purpose Business, I shared the concepts of employee engagement on two dimensions: "Technical" and "Tingle." Traditionally, most employers hired on the Technical merits of a candidate – how well they fit the job description. With Tingle, the idea was to identify how well aligned the candidate / employee and the company were with purpose, vision, mission, and values. In short, pay high attention to the culturally fit and cause connection. The On-Purpose (TOP) Performers are those who bring both Technical and Tingle.
Truly, I had heads of some very large organizations tell me back in the 1990s that I was wasting their time. In one case I was hired and fired as a consultant to a hospital service organization to address massive turnover in a low skills job. By simply rewriting the position posting and advertising to reflect and attract high tingle interest and seeing the job for what it could be, I calculated that my concept was worth over $250 million/year in cost savings system-wide. Plus, it would have improved patient safety, care, and experience while easing operational tension. A ridiculous "waste of time," huh?
Fast forward now to the SXSW 2011 Conference in this Fast Company Magazine panel interview moderated by Anya Kamenetz and featuring Alexis Ohanian (Reddit), Chris Hoyt (@TheRecruiterGuy), and Scott Belsky (Behance). Invest a minute and nineteen seconds to see what is discussed as the future of employee engagement.
As forward thinking as The On-Purpose Business was in 1998, only about 10% of the concepts in this book are approaching the mainstream. Most of this is because so few people really understand the power in purpose, let alone how to harness it for the good of self and society.
You are ahead of the curve… on-purpose!
permissions granted for use of the above cartoon by Hugh MacLeod
In spite of my classic business education and conservative ways, I have a deep appreciation for artists who tear into the essence of the human condition to challenge the traditionally held views of society. All is not right since that one bite in the Garden of Eden.
A recent post I saw in Copyblogger.com by Hugh MacLeod inspired me to dig into his story. His artwork brought a smile of irreverent recognition for the prevalent challenges with so many in the workforce. Hugh's website, GapingVoid.com, includes a number of edgy "Cube Grenades" that he fiendishly lobs into the lives of his corporate captive audiences. Take a scroll around his cartoon log. Be sure to subscribe to his daily cartoons for an emotionally explosive reminder of how your work can be a noble expression of your purpose… or not!
If you're a fan of the hit TV show The Office, then for sure, Hugh's artwork will curl your lips upward. A bit of parody mixed with a dose of purpose may be just the recipe for prodding you to be on-purpose.
Hugh provides us with a great example of a person with a love and talent for something that doesn't fit the mold of what's expected. Instead of compromising who he is to become someone he isn't, he's growing who he is in order to be more of whom he can become. Sure, he's working hard at it! Sure, you're working hard too. Hugh provides yet another profile of a person building a life where the inner work and outer work are aligned and integrated in a productive and profitable manner.
Thanks Hugh for your Cube Grenades that blow holes in the facade of living with contented, unexamined mediocrity. You're encouraging us all to step into the boldness of being on-purpose: Be Yourself> Prosper> Make A Difference.
"The task of the executive is not to change human beings. Rather, as the Bible tells us in the parable of talents, the task is to multiply the performance capacity of the whole by putting to use whatever strength, whatever health, whatever aspiration there is in individuals."
Peter F. Drucker, The Effective Executive
Being on-purpose sounds like a great concept… and it is. There's a harsh reality to it in that it stirs up stuffed emotions and realities more easily tossed aside than faced head-on. Delayed emotions inevitably rise to the surface.
I'm a fan of Nic Askew's Soul Biographies series. This particular film features Brandon Bays and vividly illustrates the cost of living in emotional denial. Men may slough this off as "just another emotional female." Don't! I'm convinced that heart attacks – a major killer of men – are no different than Brandon's tumor. Manifestations of ill-feelings can result in illness.
While Brandon Bays is a New Age spiritualist, I have to admit a bit of a smile as I listened to her deepest truth to be right out of the ancient scripture from the Gospel of John (8:32).
Share your thoughts. Also visit Nic's website and donate to his film making efforts.
