Insights, inspiration, and practical leadership and business tips and advice for meaningfully integrating your life and work using the On-Purpose Approach by Kevin W. McCarthy
Many of us grew up with a compartmentalized view of life. The wisdom of the day went along these lines: "Your personal life is your personal life. Your business life is your business life. Don't co-mingle the two."
There is a measure of merit in this. As we advance from the industrial age to the knowledge age and head into the age of purpose and meaning, integration, not separation, is becoming more the norm. Central to each person's personal life is their spiritual life or faith. If you are inclined to pray in your personal life, perhaps the role of prayer in your business life is a concept you've never considered.
This On-Purpose® Business Minute explores the power of being "on the job" and praying for owners and employees alike.
What do you think? Is it right to pray for business? Please post your answer in the comment section below.
I'm finding far too many seniors are succumbing to the popular notion that age defines attitude. Who says you can't start a new business, begin to learn new things, or be adventurous when your decades number five or more?
Don't be down if you are up in age. Longevity centers in your spirit, not your chronology. Resist popular culture's notion that 65, the retirement age, is the end of your useful life. Retirement from a job doesn't mean your life is over. It is simply a time for a new beginning. Let purpose define your life not your age and you're closer to the truth.
Who is the oldest person you know or have ever known? What did he or she tell you about the ups and downs of longevity? Please share your lessons or comments learned in the comment section.
My Grandmother McCarthy died at age 97. Sure other people lived longer than Grandma, but few have had such a quick soft laugh and sense of humor - even after death.
A funny discovery came out at Grandma's funeral. She lied about her age. It all began when she met my grandfather. She was older than him by three months and she wanted him to think he was older. Her whole family was in on the scam. She was the eldest of eleven Kuhn children. Her youngest brothers and sisters (my father's aunts and uncles) were actually younger than my father. They're the ones who told my father at the funeral that her date of birth had the wrong year - she was born in 1900, not 1901.
At her 95th (96th!) birthday celebration, I remember her telling me, "If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have done things differently." She never did tell me what things, but I sense she had some regrets.
Along these lines, here is a quote on aging sure to get your crow's feet showing!
"If you live to the age of a hundred you have it made... because very few people die past the age of a hundred."
One the great benefits of grey hair, is that the older I get the more I see the hand of God at work in and around me. Of course, I'm asking for help regularly and am, therefore, expectant.
Dr. Wayne Andersen, Medical Director of Take Shape For Life, helped me learn new Habits of Health to not just prevent disease, but to move away from disease and toward health. Being at a healthy weight is essential to longevity.
One of the Gold Sponsors at the Central Florida Christian Chamber of Commerce is Florida Hospital. Penny Jones, their board representative, heads up the Healthy 100 program. Bravo to Florida Hospital because they're promoting the message that we can live to be a Healthy 100. Listen for the optimists and live a longer and healthier life.
I've found messages and the means to support my decision to live to be 100 years of age and healthy. I don't fret the small stuff because I have time. How about you?
In the book of Matthew (16:26) it reads, For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Here is sharp warning about allowing the pursuit of such fleeting things as money, advantage, pleasures, and fame to so cloud our being that we yield our character, personal leadership, respect, dignity, and relationships. We are wise to take heed. The temptations of the world are alluring.
However, are profiting and soul losing inextricably bound as one? I say, "No!" We can have both. It is a matter of choosing which master to serve first and foremost. After watching this On-Purpose Business Minute, please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
What's your take on the matter?
Do you want to learn how to Gain Your Soul and Make A Profit? Register now for the preview webcast of The On-Purpose Business Experience.
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.
Meet Hamlet, our family's standard poodle. Hamlet is scary smart in so many ways. Often he'll look at me with his big brownish/gold eyes as if he's asking for permission to speak. I'll 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, can't talk. Imagine what his and our lives would be like if he were able to communicate. Thank you very much, Dr. Dolittle.
Words are powerful; and the most powerful words are personal, intimate, informative, revealing, insightful, meaningful, and offer definition and clarity.
When reading the works of others, I'll read a turn of expression that captures exactly what I'm feeling but I couldn't put into words. 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.
Think words aren't important? 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.
Practically speaking, an undiagnosed illness is the absence of the right word. The disease can't be treated properly or as effectively. Symptoms may be managed, but the cure remains a mystery.
Consider the gain of 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."
Can You Put Your Life Into Words?
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.
The key take-away from The On-Purpose Leader Experience is writing a two-word purpose statement. This is the beginning of being on-purpose. Imagine what your life would be like if you, like Hamlet, could use your words.
The challenges of being in business by yourself need not be a burden you carry alone. May I come along side you for 2 to 4 minutes per week to offer sound business advice and mentoring via a free subscription to the On-Purpose Business Minute and On-Purpose Minute.
Every On-Purpose Business Minute packs a practical punch of business ideas, concepts, and tips for your real life challenges of starting and running a business. On-Purpose Minutes help you become a better leader of your life. The better you lead you lead, the better you'll lead your business and team. Let's engage in all things business and life. You'll learn how to:
Identify and reach more clients & customers. Gain Sales.
Use simple business strategies & marketing plans. Work Smarter.
Get unstuck and get yourself moving forward. Lead Better.
Overcome procrastination and being overwhelmed. Get Moving.
Know what matters most. Be Focused.
Lead your business from your strengths. Make Better Decisions.
Build your business systematically. Be More Profitable.
Enjoy and integrate your life and work. Be On-Purpose!
May I invest in your business with my best best thinking, business tips, and leadership advice? Each video and accompanying text sheds light on real business problems and life challenges we all face. Each is practical, poignant, and intelligent. Opportunities to learn, grow, and build a better business and life abound. Here you can profit and still keep your soul.
Every Tuesday you will receive an On-Purpose Minute to help you grow as a leader in life and on the job.
Every Thursday you will receive an On-Purpose Business Minute with business tips, ideas & advice to help you lead your business and team to success.
Do you really know who you are? Are you maturing or just getting older?
Purpose is ultimately a spiritual matter. Most of us are on neutral ground when we talk in terms of mind, body, spirit. For two decades people of many faiths and even people of no faith have participated in and benefited from the On-Purpose® Approach as it is. It just works because the principles are universal!
When Central Florida Christian Chamber of Commerce President Mark Goldstein urged me to offer the program from a solidly Christian point of view to the Chamber members, I resisted. Not because I was unwilling, but because I am the Board Chair and didn't want to abuse my position. Mark pressed hard upon me and prevailed with the Board's blessings. Could they really say no? See the problem?
My Christian faith is the central point of integration for my life. Generally, I don't wear it on my sleeve, nor do I hide it. I like the idea of having "living water language" that is both secular and sacred. So much of Christianity is riddled with jargon and scripture references that is an unnecessary barrier to entry to the faith. Jesus taught in parables when not dealing with the religious elites. On-Purpose makes faith more accessible to all.
Therefore, in partnership with the Central Florida Christian Chamber of Commerce, I am thrilled to share with you the replay of the first ever On-Purpose Leader Experience for Christians. Here is a link so you can listen. (55 minutes plus 20 minutes of Q&A)
If you are serious about maturing as a leader of your life, then you want to invest an hour of your life to transform your life. This six-week experience is that good. Registration for this experience closes after Monday, September 20. Please listen in and join me for the next five weeks so you, too, can...
Be On-Purpose!
Kevin
PS: If you like what you see and hear, please use the "SHARE THIS" button on the replay website to tell your family and friends. Frankly this is a message that needs to get out to lots of people in the pews.
Jeevan Sivasubramaniam of Berrett-Koehler Publishers produces the weekly BK Communique. An occasional feature is a puzzler. His final contest of 2009 caught my eye. Here it is:
Drum roll please, I won the contest. Here is Jeevan's most recent posting:
"I issued this challenge. Some people came close, but no one answered correctly. The answer? You should definitely not take my bet -- here's why.
"Kevin McCarthy submitted a response that was just so, um, creative that I had to give him a free book. (And he kindly sent me a copy of his book.) You can read Kevin's response to the challenge here.
Dear Jeevan,
No, I will not accept your bet in A Game of Cards. Here's why:
After reading the challenge, I easily recognized it as a probability and statistics question. Upon the thought of engaging in the calculation of the odds of winning versus the payoff, I felt this knot in my stomach – the same one I used to feel in undergraduate and graduate school when I had to take probability and statistics classes. My mind swirled with permutations, methods, and calculations as to how to attack and solve your challenge. My competitive juices began to kick in because I had to be the first to solve it in order to win a book and have a shrine in the lobby. Fortunately, I'm on the East Coast so I have an advantage over those later risers in the Central and Western time zones.
Recognizing this strange mix of competitiveness and cards, I immediately converted from worshiping in an Episcopal church to an ultra conservative Baptist church with Pentecostal and Charismatic leanings. This means I can neither play card games nor gamble. Because I don't smoke, drink, or dance (lack of any sense of rhythm per my wife) anyway, my transition ten minutes ago to my new Thursday morning church is going along fundamentally well. Never doubt the power and practicality of my conversion and the values of my new denomination. The knot in my stomach is gone - healed in an instant! Here is proof of the peace that passes all understanding as it washed through me. PTL!
Sure, you were likely expecting some brainiac to give an answer to the challenge using math. I, however, have claimed the high moral ground in a triumph of faith over math to come to the answer. Finally, should this be the winning and timely response, then I will accept a book but must decline the shrine in the lobby. I can have no part in false idols.
Be On-Purpose!
Kevin
Kevin W. McCarthy CEO, On-Purpose Partners, LLC
Here was Jeevan's notice to me of being the book winner:
"Never has an answer been so blatantly wrong and yet seemed so right. So, what the hell, for sheer audacity and creativity, you win a book."
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