Kevin W. McCarthy

The Professor of On-Purpose

on purpose

Weighing In Again

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A number of readers followed my journey of losing weight this year.  I lost 50 pounds… but have I kept it off?

Yes!  I weigh either side of 190 a few pounds, down from a 1/1/2008 holiday high of 240!

Here's a summary of my journey.
I lost the 50 pounds from January 1 through September of this year.   The first ten pounds I dropped from January 1 – April 2.  While doing the Take Shape For Life program (phase 1: weight loss), I dropped 37 pounds between April 3 and June 30.  As the keynote speaker at their National Convention I was weighed on stage (dressed) and was 193 or down a total of 47 pounds.  In the transition stage I dropped a few more pounds to get to 190.  A full 50 pound drop in mass. 

As exciting as my weight loss is, Judith, my wife, decided to become a Certified Health Coach with Take Shape For Life.  Attending the National Convention with me, plus a desire to help others, and my results, prompted her to catch Dr. A's vision for Getting America Healthy.

Wow!  She's helping about 20 people regain their health.  It is an exciting time and the extra income during these economic times has been a true blessing.  She's been a stay at home mom (I hung her Darden School MBA diploma in our laundry room – really!).  This is a wonderful transition for her back to the workplace on her own terms.  Wonderful success stories with clients bring joy to her spirit.  Teaming up with Dr. Wayne Andersen and the Take Shape For Life team has been a joy. 

By the way, Judith has lost 25 pounds on TSFL as well.  She's back to her college weight. 

So if your New Years Resolution will include losing 20, 30, 40 pounds or more, click here to visit Judith's web site.  You can email her here for more information.

I have to admit, I'm a zealot about this weight loss / get to optimal health company.  TSFL is truly on-purpose.

Have a Happy and Healthy Holiday season.  We are!

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

Purpose or Purposes

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You have only one purpose in life.   Once you know that purpose, you are to align your life and make choices consistent with it so you are on your purpose, rather than off your purpose.  That’s the essential message of being on-purpose.

In business, and especially in the church community, many people write about their “purposes.”  Note the use of the plural form, a recent pop culture invention mostly due to Pastor Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life in which he tells people they have five purposes of Worship, Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry, and Evangelism.  These are missions of the church, not purposes.  For all the good Pastor Warren’s book is doing, it is ultimately confusing people at the core of their being, but it is getting them engaged in life more profoundly.

You do not have many purposes in life.   You may have multiple visions and missions, but only one purpose.  You may have many reasons for doing something, but only one will to do it. (Read more about the subtle differences between purpose, vision, mission, and values by clicking on this sentence.)

Need further proof of the singular nature of purpose?   The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary doesn’t provide a plural for purpose.  Purpose is inherently singular.

For example, here is an excerpt from a devotional I read today, “God
will provide the necessary circumstances to accomplish His purposes in
your life.” This is incorrect because of the plural use of the word.  God has one purpose for your life, and, yes, he will arrange the circumstances.  To push the point just a bit further, let’s replace purposes with the word will.  This is a more accurate description of the usage.  God has one will, not a plurality of wills.

Reason and purpose are frequently interchanged.  Life purpose is a person’s one reason for being or raison d’etre.  Purpose in lieu of reason is an appropriate, but a less effective word choice.  Purpose is deeply about one’s intention or will.   I appreciate that one can have many reasons for doing something, but there is one intention.  To be otherwise is to be double-minded or confused.  That is the very challenge purpose clarifies for you.  You can’t have purposes or be on-purposes. The logic and semantics don’t support the concept of purpose – plural.

Avoid getting caught up in this sloppiness of use.  Strike the non-word purposes from your vocabulary. Purpose is a truly special and remarkably powerful word as applied to one’s life purpose.  Seek the singleness of strength of being of one mind, body, and spirit and you will be on-purpose.

Your comments are always invited.

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

189 Pounds – Thanks Dr. Andersen & Take Shape For Life

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I did it!  This morning I weighed 189 pounds!  That means I've lost weight to the tune of 51 pounds since January 1!   My goal was to get under 200 pounds; however, my coach, Lori Andersen, encouraged me to go the extra 10 pounds.   Honestly, as positive and goal oriented as I am, I just couldn't believe that I would ever be under 190 pounds again without the "help" of an illness. 

The journey has actually been a lot easier than I imagined thanks to the combination Medifast meal replacements and the personal involvement of having a coach from Medifast's coaching division: Take Shape For Life.  Co-founder, Dr. Wayne Andersen, is an amazing source of inspiration, education, and vision.  His vision for the Health Coaches to get America healthy is one thing.   How that vision translates to each client is another.  I'm living proof and a huge fan!

[please note, the photo on my blog will be updated with a new one soon.  This shot is me at 240 pounds.  You'll see the new me soon.  Yesterday we had a photo shoot so a new Kevin will be appearing soon.]

[Read more…] about 189 Pounds – Thanks Dr. Andersen & Take Shape For Life

Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth

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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?

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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™.

On-Purpose Person Workshop

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OK, so you read The On-Purpose Person and promised yourself you would go back and work the process, but you didn’t.  Right?  Perhaps you got started but never finished or felt fully satisfied with your progress or purpose statement.  If you’re still pondering how you are making a difference or is your life meaningful, then come.  There is  nothing in the world like this program to help you make rapid and intense progress on being on-purpose.

Put your good intentions into place.  June 20, here in Orlando, I’ll personally lead this tried and true workshop based on The On-Purpose Person.  Come expecting great things.  Demand that you get it from me.  I want you to walk out of there blown away with the possibilities and potential of your life.  Most of all you will be on-purpose!

Download onpurpose_workshop.pdf
.

Go to the EVENTS Page to register.

 

Who Am I?

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Few questions haunt us as much as the "Who Am I?" question.  If you don’t know who you are, then the entirely to your life, despite your accomplishments, is lived under your potential.  Sobering thought, huh?

Within this blog, you’ll gain a clear and powerful answer to the "Who am I?" question and its companions that I call Life’s Great Questions.  Each is worthy of Great Answers, yet most of us are too busy to ask, let alone ponder and sufficiently answer each question.  Great Answers will transform your life forever.

Consider your answers to the following "Who Am I?" questions:

[Read more…] about Who Am I?