In part 1, I described the first step of the process. Have you come up with your WANTs, MUSTs and CANs?
A sampling of THIS AUTHOR'S WANTS, MUSTS and CAN
Singing “I’ve got no strings to hold me down”, I had a musical solo as I danced around the stage without fear or care when I was in elementary school; this experience of being Pinocchio didn’t make me a liar, but helped me realize my WANT to maintain child-like carefreeness in my life regardless of my age.
At age 13, when I came to Japan for the first time on a student exchange, I was intrigued less by the differences in culture and environment, but more by the common humanity shared by my fellow exchange students from the USA and our Japanese counterparts as we laughed and cried together. From this experience I find my MUST in supporting groups of people to overcome perceived differences to recognize their commonalities.
I recognize that my CAN is to continually stand on both virtual and physical stages to facilitate communication and engender better relations.
Therefore, I can say that my MY PURPOSE is to be like the lubricant oil for enhancing the communication, collaboration and synergy in the social machine among diverse people.
Formulating your MY PURPOSE STATEMENT (Story): What have you come to realize is your MY PURPOSE?
Formulating your MY PURPOSE STATEMENT (Story) starts with a review of your WANTs, MUSTs and CANs notes to draw out some common themes and ideas in answer to the question, “What have you come to realize is your MY PURPOSE?”
In response you may say, “Well, I know that I am the type of person who enjoys XYZ.”
Or, “I am passionate about ABC.”
So, I realize that MY PURPOSE is to (BLANK)”
Then fill in the blank with some resonant verbs such as “to bring”, “to create”, “to inspire”, etc.
Alternatively, you may describe your MY PURPOSE metaphorically.
MY PURPOSE is to be as the eagle that soars above majestically.
As I swing my bat each day to hit the balls that life pitches my way, I aim for the stands in all I do.
Be creative. Aim for some unique combination of words and ideas that could be intriguing to others, even if not fully understandable right off. Say something that gets others wanting to hear more.
MY PURPOSE STATEMENT: explain something that is uniquely You
Then give some more context to your MY PURPOSE by describing some of the formidable experiences which you uncovered through the WANTS, MUSTs and CANs self-discovery.
You may say, “This is MY PURPOSE because I know that what I want in my life is to…”
Or, when I was younger, I went to DEF.”
“In high school, I was XYZ."
I know that I can do XYZ because I experienced GHI.”
Tell some of the stories that make you uniquely you; give some dimension to your MY PURPOSE by informing others about how your past experiences have molded you into the person you are today.
MY PURPOSE STATEMENT: What is the impact you want to have?
To this point, your MY PURPOSE statement (story) has been grounded in your present and your past. For your MY PURPOSE to be like the compass that points you in the right direction going forward, you now need to consider the IMPACT you want to have from this sense of MY PURPOSE.
What is the impact you want to have?
Impact is that which makes others know I WAS HERE. Impact is what makes your being recognizable. A PURPOSE cannot be complete without some IMPACT STATEMENT.
“Therefore, the impact I want to have is…”
Or, “The mark I want to leave on the world is…”
The IMPACT STATEMENT is what connects your sense of being with the actions you can take hereafter.
In summary, your MY PURPOSE statement may have the following elements:
1) Statement of MY PURPOSE
2) Description of formidable experiences which helped you realize this MY PURPOSE
3) Impact Declaration
Coaching to further develop YOUR MY PURPOSE statement (story)
When I work with individuals and groups of people to develop a sense of MY PURPOSE, I may start with a general orientation session in which I provide the preparatory work of self-reflection on one’s WANTs, MUSTs and CAN. And, I normally ask participants to pen the first draft of their MY PURPOSE statement (story). Then, I will conduct a coaching session to help the participants deepen their self-understanding and enrich their MY PURPOSE.
The coaching session is an important element of the MY PURPOSE formulation process. When conducted in groups, group members provide feedback to each other; they describe what they heard from their fellow participants which was interesting or inspiring. They also describe what they would like the coached participant to explain more clearly or more deeply hereafter.
As a coach, I ask questions to break through the superficial layer of thought and dig deeper into the essence of the person’s PURPOSE. I also challenge people to think even more boldly and to imagine what it would be like to “raise up the volume” of one’s MY PURPOSE to make an even more meaningful impact.
Above all, as a coach, I encourage but do not judge. I create a comfortable space for sharing ideas and I challenge participants to recognize that their own PURPOSE has no bounds.
You may stop here or go further to tie your MY PURPOSE to the goals, mission and purpose of any organization in which you are active. In part 3, I will explain how to overlay your MY PURPOSE with that of your organization.
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