Kevin W. McCarthy

The Professor of On-Purpose

Blog

Time Management: Myth or Missing Link

By

Too much to do and not enough time to get it all done.  For most of us that means it
is time to turn to time management.  Courses and seminars in time
management, software packages, PDAs like the Palm, and good old
fashioned daily planners like a DayTImer, Franklin Covey Planner, or Day
Runner, all hold great promise to help you get your life on track.  And
they do!  Kinda.  Mostly.

Time management is a smokescreen masking an underlying
problem.  Sure time management systems allow you to manage events, set priorities, plan your day, and schedule your appointments.  But are you making progress in life or are you just moving around meetings and activities?  Have you just become more efficient at being ineffective?

Solve the underlying challenge of why you need time
management and your time management problems narrow significantly.  In the end, it isn’t the tools and technology or time management that make a difference.  It is you!

[Read more…] about Time Management: Myth or Missing Link

It’s (Not) About Me

By

Recently I was shopping at the local Publix grocery store.  Standing at
the checkout line was a trim woman in her thirties wearing a hot pink
T-shirt with the message, “IT’S ABOUT ME” in three-inch capital letters
trimmed by pink sequins.  I believe she’s right.  Pastor Rick Warren’s
book, The Purpose Driven Life, begins Day 1 with the statement. “It’s
not about you.”  I believe he’s right.

[Read more…] about It’s (Not) About Me

How do I find my purpose in life?

By

This is one of those questions that comes up hauntingly too often.
Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place.

Please, allow me give you the short answer about finding meaning and purpose in your life so you can get started.

Grab a sheet of paper and a pen.
Answer the question, “Why do I exist?”
Write everything you can think.  Do a brain dump.
Once you’ve completed this, distill your pages into one page.
Then, distill your one page into a paragraph.
Reduce that paragraph to a sentence.
Reduce the sentence to two words.
The first word is an action verb or gerund (ends with an “ing” like liberating, awakening, or igniting).
The second word is an object.
Give these words a generic beginning of, “I exist to serve by…”
Now you have written your purpose statement.
[Read more…] about How do I find my purpose in life?

Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth

By

Oprah Winfrey’s recent foray with Eckhart Tolle, the author the book, A New Earth, Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose has certainly engaged a huge segment of the population.  Tapping into people’s hunger for spiritual depth is one thing.  Delivering on the promise is another.

Here are some of the Great Question of Life that are often asked:

  • What is the purpose of life?
  • How do I find my purpose in life?
  • What is the meaning of life?
  • Is life meaningful?

[Read more…] about Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth

What Does It Mean to Be On-Purpose?

By

The On-Purpose® Approach is best understood by reading my books The On-Purpose Person and The On-Purpose Business.  They provide a fundamental understanding of this movement of hearts into meaningful action.  Nothing else in the marketplace provides such a broad, yet integrated lifestyle.

On-Purpose® is a holistic and integrated lifestyle advocating the fullness of life.
On-Purpose® is a method with everyday tools to build a life, a career, or a business.
On-Purpose® is a point of view that life and work are by design and meaningful.
On-Purpose® is a light turned on to shine into the darkness of the heart of one’s heart.
On-Purpose® is a way to answer The Great Questions of Life.
On-Purpose® is to live with intention and personal accountability within a larger fellowship.
On-Purpose® is to know one’s purpose and to align one’s life with that purpose.
On-Purpose® is living a called life, instead of a driven life.
On-Purpose® is spiritual in that it answers the deepest longings for significance and belonging.
On-Purpose® is hopeful, positive, and relevant to contemporary challenges.
On-Purpose® is shalom from the Jewish concept of peace that comes from being one with God.
On-Purpose® is to clearly know one’s identity in Christ and to joyfully live in this manner.
On-Purpose® is to seek God first and to center one’s life on The Great Commandment.
On-Purpose® is seeking to meet us where we are and to live as Jesus did in his day.
On-Purpose® is the alignment of your heart, head, and hands within your highest values.
On-Purpose® is practical because it can be lived long term and moment to moment.
On-Purpose® is giving from strength even in times of weakness.
On-Purpose® is the difference in people who make a difference™.

30 pound weight loss – 7 Weeks!

By

Tsfl_may_23_2008Unbelievable!  I am somewhat stunned.  After years of attempting to eat right, exercise, and drink more water… and failing to lose much beyond the initial five or ten pounds, I am actually down 30 pounds since April 4th.  That’s seven short weeks ago. 

Here is my weigh in photo taken just about 6;45 am this morning.  You may recall my blog post on April 4th with my scale reading 230!  My goal weight remains 40 pounds of weight loss or to reach 190 pounds.  Nevertheless, to break the 200 mark is a major milestone for me.  I can’t remember the last time I weighed under 200.  Certainly, when I was playing lots of competitive tennis at age 35 – some 18 years ago – I was in much better shape.  Playing in the Men’s 35 Nationals Clay Courts I hurt my knee and laid off for 13 years until a modest three-year return to courts.  I haven’t play for nearly two years now.  I would have to guess my weight has been above 200 since 1990.  I just can’t believe I let it slide like this for so long.

The picture that’s the header of my blog shows me in late October, 2007.  I probably weighed 235 at the time of the photo shoot.  Now, in addition to new clothes, I’ll soon need new photos taken for my web site and speaker kit.  This is what one calls a good problem. 

[Read more…] about 30 pound weight loss – 7 Weeks!

Profit-Making On-Purpose®

By

I will be the keynote speaker at the Chamber’s event.  This event is open to the public. 

When: Friday, June 6, 2008, 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM
What: Seminole County (FL) Chamber of Commerce Small Business Breakfast
Topic: Profit-Making On-Purpose®

Purpose Is an Amazing Word

By

Purpose is an amazing word that has captivated my life and work since the mid-1980s.  This idea of simply on-purpose, however, is not meant to amaze you with a word, its concepts, and meaning.  Instead, this is your invitation to an adventure filled with discovery toward revelation of your unique identity and significant fit on the planet.  Life is to be experienced.  And a life with a profound knowledge of purpose is life predictably experienced more resolutely, meaningfully, and joyfully.

Purpose is also one of the most misunderstood and frequently used words.  As a result, we’re left with counterfeit versions of purpose.  Authentic purpose is like nothing you’ve ever experienced.  A picture postcard of the Grand Canyon is a mere snapshot of its beauty, depth, and grandeur.  But, you haven’t experienced the Grand Canyon until you’ve stood at the Canyon edge in utter wonder and also stood deep within it and looked heavenward.  Purpose is likewise to be experienced with an inspiring gasp of joy and varied perspective.  It is big!  Resist settling for the postcard and believing you’re living in the real thing.