Kevin W. McCarthy

The Professor of On-Purpose

Purpose

Have You Had Your Profit Epiphany?

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Profit-making has a bad rap.

Too often we associate profit with greed.

Truth be told, greed is an attitude of the heart that is often revealed in business but isn’t inherent to being in business.

If your heart’s desire is to truly be of service to others, then greed is likely not going to be your problem. Your challenge is just the opposite—you run so far from the appearances of greed that you overdeliver and undercharge so often that your business is hanging by a thread. Check your mindset and see if I’m right!

This On-Purpose Business Minute may be just the message you need to hear to awaken you that it isn’t your marketing, sales force, or operations that needs the adjustment—it is your internal posture about profits in need of repair. 

 

Who Cares About Leading The Business?

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Leading the business carries responsibilities. Being aPurpose of Organization business advisor and strategic management consultant for more than a couple of decades, I can tell you the single, simplest, most overlooked root of more problems in organizations is the failure to articulate, communicate, and execute based on the purpose of the organization (Po). Its absence is massively expensive; its presence nourishes the corporate culture for productive and efficient growth in people and profits.

Someone in charge, however, has to care. Is that you who is leading the business?

This lack of deep strategic clarity muddles every aspect of the organization. People, process, performance, profits, customer service, and operations are just a few of the functional areas informed by a potent, simple, 2-word purpose statement. 

Yet, purpose statements are amazingly misunderstood, unappreciated, and under-engaged. In businesses, I’ve seen the benefit of the leadership team knowing and executing on their purpose produce a 25% or more increase in sales and even greater percentage increases in profits. 

Are you finally ready to set a strategic cornerstone and write your purpose statement? Remember, it is just a beginning but an essential start. I recommend that all business clients first write their personal purpose statement before they do the business statement.

 

Are You Feeling Successful?

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You are more successful and, frankly, abundantly blessed than you realize! Success is measured in many ways, but what if the real measure of success is not in what you get but in what you give. Later on in this post, watch the video below and learn how $10 can give you a chance to transform your perspective and the life of another person on the planet.

There’s a mental snare that catches many of us. The thinking goes along the lines of, “When I have plenty, I’ll give from my excess.” Your willing spirit is being derailed by a misconception of abundance. It is the donor equivalent of seeing the glass half empty. You already have everything you need to be generous.

Years ago, a friend showed me a website called The Global Rich List. You enter an income and it shows you where you stack up in the world in terms of wealth given the 7.3+ billion people on the planet. For example:

  • If you make US$30,000 per year, you are in the top 1.23% of worldwide wage earners and rank as the 73,638,782th top wage earner.
  • If you make US$60,000 per year, you are in the top 0.19% of worldwide wage earners and rank as the 11,425,778th top wage earner.
  • If you make US$100,000 per year, you are in the top 0.08% of worldwide wage earners and rank as the 5,067,405th top wage earner.
  • If you make US$225,000 per year, you are in the top 0.04% of worldwide wage earners and rank as the 2,359,669th top wage earner.

Chances are that if you’re reading these words, you are in the top 2% of the world in terms of income. You have an abundance already. You’re just seeing a 100-ounce glass that’s missing 2 ounces as being 50% empty. In other words, by financial standards, you are successful on the scope of the planet.

Avoid getting caught up in what you don’t have. Appreciate what you do have and become a better steward. Give from your existing abundance.

The $10 Idea to Make A Difference

Ready to put your newfound nearly full glass of abundance to work? Here’s an idea for you. Find a meaningful way to give away $10 to any charity or person you meet today.

The only attached string is that I want you to feel the prompting of your spirit that this will be meaningful to the person receiving it. It can be a gift of charity, or of appreciation, or simply a love gift. It can be a stranger or someone close to you. There are no rules except you need to feel prompted to do it.

Repeat The $10 Idea again if you feel prompted.

Top 2%er in the World … Need an Idea? How about Clean Water?

Keri Kuffel, my friend, is running in the Orlando Utilities Commission half-marathon to raise money for charity:water. I’ve given $25. How about you? Please donate $10+ to her effort using this link.

The Bible tells us in Luke 12:48b (NIV), “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”

You are successful. You have abundance. Practice stewardship and generosity for you have been entrusted with much, especially as a top 2%er. 

Do You Have a Sense of Purpose?

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Look for it! You’ll hear it. Perhaps you’re even one who says it. “I did (such and such) and I had a real sense of purpose.” A “sense” is an inkling, a tiny bit, a nibble, a whiff, a morsel.

Why are you settling for so little? A sense of purpose is merely fumes on the combustible fuel found in truly knowing your purpose.

Invest 30 minutes to watch The POWER of Your 2-Word Purpose Statement. Learn what you’re missing and what you have to gain by knowing your 2-word purpose statement and learning to live on-purpose. Tip: When watching, click the “Listen” button. Next, place your cursor on the video controls and drag to minute 10 to the actual start of the webcast.

Making Money or Making A Difference?

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“Making money or making a difference” captures the crux of the dilemma where many a business person lives. It isn’t an “either or” question. It is a “both and” matter. But, when push comes to shove, which way do you lean?

On-Purpose Peace Online Small Group Forming! Click on Image to Learn More.
Join me for an On-Purpose Peace Online Small Group! Click on Image to Learn More.

Early in my career I was largely driven to make money. I actually made lots of money at different times, but I lost lots of dollars, too—thanks in large part to an ugly business partnership divorce. My dealings with other money hungry people created a series of get-rich quick efforts that rarely panned out. Finding myself in a couple of ethically compromising situations, my spirit was disturbed and I was not at peace with myself.

I decided that my long-term best strategy for peaceful sleep and health was a wide margin from all borderline business dealings. That was in 1987. 

Since the late 1980s, I’ve faithfully nourished the message of purpose and pioneered being On-Purpose® only to see many others leverage (often poorly) the labor and reap the fruit. I’ve held, however, to the scripture that teaches, “The harvest is plentiful. The workers are few,” so I’ve welcomed my co-laborers.

With the release of On-Purpose Peace Fellowship Edition (Christian) and My On-Purpose Folder now I’m sharing my tools with the co-laborers. The live video-conference facilitation I’ll be hosting digs deeper. Come join me and be an on-purpose person in creation.

Back in the late 90s, however, I swung too far to the extreme “making a difference” side of the equation for too many years. I placed at risk my business, finances, and capacity to grow. It made it difficult for my team members. My generosity had personal and family implications as well.

The #1 Non-Fiction Book on Kindle Free!

Good News! My investment in others eventually had a “pay day.” The week of April 24–28, 2012, the fruit of my decision came to life in a humbling manner. At On-Purpose Partners we launched The On-Purpose Person on Kindle (http://www.oppkindle.com) with a free promotion, along with a free webcast called The Power of a 2-Word Purpose Statement.

Wow! My family, fans, friends, and clients came through with an outpouring of returned generosity and support. In the first 48 hours, over 13,000 souls downloaded The On-Purpose Person in the Kindle free market. 72 hours later over 32,539 souls had downloaded The On-Purpose Person during the campaign. This rocketed the message to the top of the Kindle free charts:

  • #5 in all categories
  • #1 in non-fiction Amazon 1 non-fiction
  • #1 Business
  • #1 Leadership
  • #1 Personal Growth
  • #1 Transformation
  • #1 Self Help
  • #1 Religion and Spirituality
  • #1 How to & Advice
  • And more!

At the time Julie Holzmann (Discovering Beauty) and I (Being On-Purpose) had worked together for over ten years. She sent me the closing clip of George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) from It’s A Wonderful Life. In the scene all of George’s neighbors learn he may have to close the bank and they all pool their money to help. Now I knew what George felt like.

That day on April 24, 2012 as the Kindle e-book download count mounted past 1,000, then 2,000, then 5,000, and Wednesday climbed to 10,000 and 11,000 our George Bailey moment, as Julie so aptly called it, came to life. A few tears have been shed in appreciation and awe since. I could never have imagined that 32,539 souls would ultimately download the e-book.

Our small team here deserves so much credit. Julie works with me on communications. Cheryl helps with the office and keeping track of my easily distracted nature. Mary Tomlinson, my business partner, has taken this message into companies for more than 12 years. Mary Dominguez recognized how to leverage the opportunity with Kindle and brought needed energy and social media effort to the equation. We’ve partnered with technologies from Kudu Publishing, Constant Contact, Xiosoft Instant Teleseminar, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Amazon.com, Apple Inc., 37 Signals, Copyblogger, and more to pull off this launch. My intercessor, Mary R., brought the ultimate in “high” tech—prayer.

The likes of Seth Godin, Rick Radditz, David Bush, Greg Voisen, and Sandy Shugart and more shared the promotion with their email lists. What a team effort.

The generosity of others is the gift that pushed the launch into the 5-figures and top ranking. Too many people to mention here. You know who you are and how your contribution counted.

I pray that you too will have your “It’s A Wonderful Life Moment” and you’ll see the richness of your relationships and how you’re making a difference.

Thanks all for your trust! Be Yourself. Prosper. Make A Difference!

Be On-Purpose!
Kevin

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Can You Put It Into Words?

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Is it time for your On-Purpose leadership experience?OP Person and Peace covers

Join Kevin W. McCarthy as he facilitates On-Purpose Peace, a 7-week live video conference small group using On-Purpose Peace. Learn more at the On-Purpose Peace website.

 

Meet Hamlet, our family’s standard poodle who died back in October of 2015. Hamlet was scary smart and we kept expecting him to talk. Looking at meHamlet with Ball with his big brownish/gold eyes it was as if he was asking for permission to speak. I’d say to him, “Hamlet, use your words!”—the same statement I would make to our kids in their terrible twos to thwart a temper tantrum.

Hamlet, of course, didn’t talk. Imagine what his and our lives would be like if he could have put it into words. Thank you very much, Dr. Dolittle.

Words are powerful. The most powerful are personal, intimate, informative, revealing, insightful, meaningful, and offer definition and clarity. God created the world by speaking it into being with words (see below). It doesn’t get much more powerful than that!

When reading the writings of others, I so appreciate a turn of phrase that captures exactly what I’m feeling but I couldn’t express in words as succinctly. There’s something refreshing to the soul when a song, poem, or book articulates our spirit and reveals a rare glimpse at ourselves, yet through the eyes and words of another.

Consider the cost of ill-suited words. Words are the sword of the tongue and spirit. This gives rise to wise counsel such as, “Think before you speak.” Words can be hurtful and mean.

Medically speaking, an undiagnosed illness is the absence of the right word. A disease can’t be treated properly or as effectively until it can be identified. Symptoms may be managed, but the cure remains a mystery. To put it into words makes a big difference.

Consider the gains to be had using the right words. The sense of understanding and completion is richly satisfying to the soul. Right words enable right action, productivity, and accomplishment.

The Meaning of Life and The Meaning of Words Are One

Of everything in the universe, the ultimate question of life can only be explained in words. The meaning of life is understood in words because God used words to create the world. The Gospel of John tells us that, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

What Are The Words of Your Life?

Writing your personal purpose statement may seem like it is the act of putting your life into words. In fact, it isn’t that at all. Writing a purpose statement is the audacious attempt to articulate and then harness the supernatural mystery and link between the spiritual and physical realms. 

Your purpose, like Jesus, is fully spiritual and fully physical. When the revelation of your purpose comes to light, your sense of your self, your life, your experiences, and more come into an extraordinary focus and context. It is the power of words made personal and authentic. 

A true highlight of On-Purpose Peace is writing a 2-word personal purpose statement. This is the beginning of being on-purpose. Imagine what your life would be like if you, unlike Hamlet, could use your words that are written on your heart.

Which Team Experience Would Best Serve Your Business and Life?

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This On-Purpose Business Minute originally aired in September of 2009 when I was trying to help my daughter, Anne, decide about college sports opportunities. This week I was speaking with a long-time friend about an almost identical dilemma his daughters face so I thought it was appropriate to reach out for crowd wisdom, especially those of you who might have had college sports experiences.

This On-Purpose Business Minute invites your wisdom in the comment section. Help my friend’s daughters and other high school and college athletes better ponder their decisions about college sports programs. Share your perspectives and insights by answering this question:

Which Team Experience Would Best Serve Your Business and Life?

  • To be the 26th player on a national championship caliber team? Or
  • To be a four-year starter at a smaller college?

Learn more about the UNC Women’s Soccer Program by watching the video trailer to Winning Isn’t Everything. This is a great example of an On-Purpose Team!

By the way, Anne decided to focus on her academics while at UNC Chapel Hill and not play soccer. She graduated in three years and has a great job with Automattic, the creators of WordPress, the platform for this website as a matter of fact.

As fate would have it, she arrived on the UNC campus as a freshman and on activities day discovered there was a women’s rugby club team. Fascinated, she joined the club, excelled and took to it. In fact, because of her promise shown in the fall of her freshman year, she earned an invitation to attend the College All-American & National Team training camp. She played rugby for a couple of years until she tore an ACL in her knee at a match at the University of South Carolina. Judith and I were at that match and I saw her go down on the field after making a tackle. I thought her shoulder was hurt, not her leg.

While recovering from the surgery she better realized the physical risks of rugby along with the demands of being a college athlete. She elected to stop playing her last year to focus on her studies. Today, she plays pick up soccer, her sport where she was an All-State Player in Florida; and she remains an avid fan of rugby.

Are You Making Half-Hearted Attempts?

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Seven years ago, the decision to quietly add Health Coaching to our services at On-Purpose Partners was made, and it has been eye-opening for our traditional On-Purpose® coaching work with clients. The difference is the “BS Factor” is so much easier to detect with health coaching — either the client is gaining health or not. It is literally right out front and easily measured.

The scales don’t lie, but we do. Recently, one of our clients shared that he came to realize he would look in the mirror and see himself as thin. At 6′ 2″ and over 340 pounds — and NOT playing in the NFL — he was deceiving himself. Therefore, with high integrity, he could “lie” to others about his growing health problems because he didn’t “really” have one. Denial is dangerous to our health and well-being.

I was just as guilty gambling with my health! For too many years, I would look in the KWM Before and Aftermirror and see all the “muscles” I had gained over the years. Who was I fooling? Today, I’m soooo thankful for my health that I can’t NOT share good health with others. Ah, the making of a zealot!

I still battle with a tendency to eat unhealthy because I, like so many of us, find that food = comfort, legal pleasure, and “control.” Sweets, especially carbs in the forms of ice cream, chocolate, candy, and bread are my old coping mechanisms. I can’t afford to be half-hearted about my health.

Half-hearted attempts reflect delayed decisions and unproductive rationales.

  • “I’ll get around to being healthy.”
  • “That hot fudge sundae won’t kill me.”
  • “If I don’t call that client today …”

God gave us a whole heart so why make half-hearted attempts with it? Your purpose is symbolized by your heart.

Here’s the essence of the problem: when we don’t know who we are, why we exist, where we are going with our lives, and what’s important, then we’re not right with ourselves.

This being out of personal integrity stirs unhealthy emotions. The vast majority of us “drug” ourselves to dull the pain. My drug of choice is sweets. For others it may be alcohol, shopping, gambling, exercise, drugs (legal and illegal), sexual activities, gaming, sports, and so forth. Running from ourselves only gets us lost further from where we started.

The result: we’re half-hearted, too busy, and spread too thin even as the spread is widening between who we are and who we’ve become.

Get in touch with your identity via your purpose, especially. Invest the time to also clarify your vision, mission, and values. You’ll be prepared to be more fully engaged in your life. When you better know who you are, you’ll discover half-hearted attempts are episodes in your life, but they no longer define your life. You are literally a better person!

When you more regularly have the benefit of whole-hearted living, then half-hearted attempts are seen for what they are — a waste. Either make a decision to go for it or not. Dithering is destructive to body, mind, and spirit. Choose your battles to win.

Show Up

I’m low on the shrewd scale. I too often take what people say at face value. It wasn’t until we had the health coaching business that I realized how much people say that they will do but don’t actually do it. Many are highly regarded colleagues, thought leaders, coaches, leaders, and professionals. It has been eye-opening for me to come to terms that it is about 50/50 between the dos and don’ts on commitments.

A friend taught us an expression years ago that Judith and I still use today. Here it is: “Mr. Say am here. Mr. Do ain’t showed up.” There it is in a nutshell! We’re overworked, stressed, getting fatter, and whatever other pennies we earn, we pay in pounds packed on the waist. When we don’t show up, the weight gain shows up.

Personally: Are you making half-hearted attempts to get healthy?

  • If a health coach forwarded this message to you then ask him or her for their help. Learn how easy it is to get healthy when you have a professional health coach guiding you. And then make the commitment whole-heartedly.  
  • If you need a Health Coach, then email me and I’ll get you a free 30-minute consultation with one of our Certified Health Coaches.

At work: Are you frustrated with your half-hearted work? 

  • Do you dream of starting a business where you can give meaningful and profitable expression to who you are? 
  • Please email me to set up a time to visit so you can be more fully engaged in your life and work.

Be On-Purpose!
Kevin