Insights on business,
life, and leadership —
right in your inbox!

Clarifying Your Purpose

January 26, 2021

Six years ago, I wrote a book called The Lepers’ Lessons with my good friend Paulus Wiranto.

In it, we unpack an ancient story from the Old Testament about four lepers who stare death in the face and choose to step out in faith. 

Isn’t it interesting how impending death has a way of clarifying your purpose? When you’re faced with death, decisions seem easier. The right choices seem more clear. Paulus tells the story of his battle with cancer in The Lepers’ Lessons, and for him, this season was a wake up call. After facing death, he knew how he needed to reorient his life.

Last week, I shared that I had lost two people I care a lot about. The first one was Shauna D’Agostino, a lifelong family friend, who died tragically in a car accident at the age of 42. The second was Andy Smith who lived a full life and died at the age of 86. Because Andy was a grandfather to me, I shared 10 lessons I learned from his example. Due to the overwhelming response of last week’s blog, I felt the need to expand on what I said in today’s blog.

Eighty percent of the time, I am talking about leadership. I am talking about how to build a healthy corporate culture, how to clarify your vision, or how to get scrappy. I believe leadership is important—it’s why I spend so much time talking about it!

But there are times like last week when leadership seems secondary to life. It’s in these moments that I take a step back and ask myself these questions that Paulus and I first asked in The Lepers’ Lessons:

– Why am I alive?
– Why do I do what I do?
– Why do I have what I have?
– Who is going with me?
– What am I carrying?

Maybe you didn’t have the same experience I did a couple of weeks ago, but maybe 2020 has spilled over into 2021 for you. You may be anxious and scared for our country, discouraged, depressed, or maybe even just tired.  Whatever the case may be, I hope you’ll take the time to ask yourself these questions and work to gain clarity about your purpose this year.

This clarity isn’t about dwelling on death, but rather, it’s about helping us live our lives to the full—because one day, we will die.

If you have been along on this journey with me for a while, you’ve probably already read The Lepers’ Lessons, but if you haven’t, I encourage you to pick up a copy and learn these timeless truths from four lepers in the Old Testament.

Get The Lepers’ Lessons Here

 

Signature

Insights on business,
life, and leadership —
right in your inbox!