Finding Your Purpose

Finding your purpose is crucial for successful sales.

If you are able to feel like you are doing something meaningful in your job, the chances of success will be that much closer.

But how do you get to that point?

The Essence of Your Purpose

Every now and then you come across something that seriously challenges you. What do you do when this happens?

Think about this question for a few moments: Why do you do what you do?

Finding your purpose is not a one-time-only thing. Of course, there are things that will change you in the future and that can alter your goals, but that’s OK because your purpose will change with you.

When I was 19, my purpose was all about pleasure. By the time I was 39, my purpose was much more about family.

Now, at age 59 It’s much more about impact.

But the key is that it’s a question I have to consistently ask myself.

What is my purpose?

What Is Your Purpose?

What is my purpose? It’s not an easy question to answer. It should be, but it’s not.

Let me offer you three test questions to help you determine how closely you are in sync with your purpose:

1. Does your purpose align with your values? – When we think about values, we think about what is important to us. We think about what we stand for.
2. Does your purpose give your direction? – When your purpose is well-defined, it gives you clarity on the steps that you need to take, as well as the actions of your daily life.
3. Does fulfilling your purpose bring you life satisfaction? – If you are truly living according to your purpose, you will find tremendous amounts of satisfaction in your life.

When we think about purpose statements, we typically think about organizational mission statements. That’s good. That’s an honest way to look at the question.

Organizations spend a lot of time clarifying their mission statement. You should spend a lot of time clarifying your purpose statements as well.

Every purpose should lead to an end result.

To help you clarify this statement and actually accomplish your goals, you need to add a SO THAT statement to it. I need to do this today, SO THAT…

How to Find Your Purpose Statement

To help you find your own statement, I want to offer you three elements that you should see in your own values and purpose. They are distinction, excellence, and service.

Here are three questions to help you test these elements:

1. What makes me distinct and unique?
2. The reason why I am committed to excellence in everything I do is what?
3. The reason why I do what I do in the first place is what?

To help you get started, here is an example from my own experience:

I make sales professionals become better by challenging them to meet their full potential. That is what I do.

This framework helps you to define what an effective purpose statement would look like if you were still struggling with this.

It might help you to go back and do three things.

1. First, identify your past successes – what have you been effective and successful at in the past?
2. Next, identify your core values – what is meaningful to you?
3. Finally, identify your contributions – what have you done in the past that has made a difference?

Wrapping Up

One important final note to remember: All change begins by telling the truth.

You cannot say one thing and behave in another. This demonstrates a lack of integrity.

So, this week I want you to test your mission statement. Write it out according to that fill-in-the-blank formula I offered a moment ago.

And then do two things.

First, show it to others, get their honest feedback. Does this represent you?

And second, compare your mission statement to your calendar.

If this is truly your purpose in life, then you will be able to see it by how you spend your time on it.

If there is a misalignment between your purpose statement and your calendar, then something has to change.

Until next time, learn more to earn more.